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Primrose stood up, and began the account of the animal’s 

ADVENTURES. — Page son. 



LITTLE RED HOUSE SERIES 


THE 

RED HOUSE CHILDREN 
GROWING UP 


AMANDA 


ILLUSTRATED 


BY 

m/douglas 


BY LOUISE WYMAN 



BOSTON 

LOTHROP. LEE S SHEPARD CO. 


Published, April, 1916 



Copyright, 1916, by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Cc 
All Rights Reserved 


The Red House Children Growing Up 


IRorwooC) ipre00 

BERWICK.& SMITH CO. 
NoRWQopj Mass. 

U. S. A. 


APR 28 1916 


©CU428753 


CONTENTS 




CHAPTER 

I. 

Making Up a Difference 



PAGE 

I 

11 . 

A Marriage and a Parting 



i6 

III. 

Working for a Purpose . 



35 

IV. 

Chan’s Concert 



49 

V. 

An Engagement 



66 

VI. 

Mr. Bernstein 



93 

VII. 

A Trial of Patience 



109 

VIII. 

A Little Love-Making . 



143 

IX. 

Of Many Things 



150 

X. 

A Joyous Christmas 



171 

XL 

Afterward 



191 

XII. 

A New Prospect 



211 

XIII. 

A Girl's Way . 



233 

XIV. 

Awakening 



248 

XV. 

A Confession . 



270 

XVI. 

Courage and Honor 



279 

XVII. 

A Boys’ Dinner Party . 



300 

XVIII. 

Thankfulness and Hope . 



316 


V 



ILLUSTRATIONS 


Primrose stood up, and began the account of the 

animal’s adventures (page 306) . . Frontispiece ^ 

FACING 

PAGE 

« He’s set the day and all” 72 K 

“ I PROMISED YOUR MOTHER I WOULD NOT SPEAK WHILE YOU 
WERE STILL SUCH A CHILD ” 

Everybody said it was a lovely wedding ! 

She experienced an uncomfortable feeling when she 

observed two women watching her . . . 260 

« Miss Kent is right. I was nor a pupil then ” . . 282 


140 

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THE RED HOUSE CHILDREN 
GROWING UP 


CHAPTER I 

MAKING UP A DIFFERENCE 

** What have you children been doing or 
saying to Mr. Evans ? I asked him yesterday 
to come in to tea. Mr. Rainsford was away, but 
he just said he couldn’t ; that he would some 
time, but he spoke in a rather queer tone. I 
thought maybe ” 

Here Linn broke off, and glanced up with a 
questioning air. The younger children were 
sitting on the steps, and Linn stood before them 
in a rather judicial attitude. They looked up in 
a somewhat startled fashion. 

Rilla was crocheting, and now she spread her 
work out on her knee as if examining it. 

Why, think how interested he has been I 
There were the meetings about the Museum. 
He didn’t want to be put on the committee and 
would only accept an advisory something, and 


2 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


there’s been all the church business. Miss Evans 
said he had the promise of three thousand dollars 
already. He wants ten thousand before he will 
have any plans made. And there’s been his 
guest from India. They’ve all been asked to 
tea and dinners and everywhere. He has had 
to pay some attention to Mr. Rainsford.” 

“ He hasn’t been in once in ever so long. 
And he used to drop in so often. I was count- 
ing on his help in Latin. I don’t want to lose 
him with all these things. He’s so big-brothery- 
like, and knows just how to decide and ad- 
vise. There were such lovely Sunday nights. 
It seemed to make up for Chan’s being away.” 

“ Do you suppose Mr. Rainsford is going to 
marry Miss Evans?” 

Prim glanced around for an answer. 

“ It’s a kind of talk at school. But she’d have 
to go to India with him.” 

“Oh, of course. I shouldn’t like that,” ob- 
served Amaryllis. 

“ But there 8L)i^ so many fine things to see in 
India.” 

“ And I hope we’ll have a beautiful little 
church and a surpliced choir. Then I should 
like to come and sing,” exclaimed Chan. 

“ Oh, we are getting quite grand in Grafton. 


GROWING UP 


3 

Think of the new houses being built/^ Primrose 
remarked. 

Mr. Mann, the stepfather of the eight Firth 
children, who was reading his paper at the end 
of the piazza, smiled a little at the talk and the 
“ big-brothery ” seemed just to express what 
Mr. Evans had been to the children. He knew 
what had fenced the clergyman out. He aeed 
not have been quite so severe when Mr. Evans 
expressed his wish some day to make Rilla his 
wife. He had been positively unfriendly in giv- 
ing such a curt dismissal, and, after all, Rilla was 
still a sort of little girl, even if she was taller 
than her mother. And he liked Mr. Evans as 
much as the children did. He would make a 
fine big brother for Linn. Chan loved him, too. 

They met and were friendly in a business way. 
Fate seemed to throw them together. The 
Museum was the nucleus of larger things. The 
church had met with hearty approval. 

He did owe Mr. Evans an apology. There 
was a bit of discomfort every time he saw the 
clergyman, who went his way serenely. And 
he couldn^t help thinking how lonely it would 
be for Mr. Evans by and by. 

The primary school had created quite a stir. 
It was really attractive. The Morton Primary 


RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


4 

had been overcrowded, and this was considered 
a great relief, as in the western part of the city 
there were a number of families with small chil- 
dren. All beyond a certain limit were requested 
to send their children thither. 

“ I just won’t go,” announced Rhoda with her 
usual dignity. “ I like my classes and I like 
trolley rides. I’m getting along first rate.” 

“ But we are all in the city of Ridgewood ; and 
it is a straight walk out there, with a nice pave- 
ment — about half the distance — and at least 
forty children are on the register already,” Linn 
observed. 

“ But when it rains ? ” 

“ Then the carriage will come for you. That 
will be much more aristocratic,” Linn replied. 

Rhoda looked at her mother and said, “ They’re 
going to be such little things like Laurel and 
Amy. And- ” 

“You'll get in the grammar school all the 
sooner if you are so far ahead of them,” replied 
the mother gravely. 

Rhoda thought she would talk it over with her 
father, but she found him very warmly in favor 
of the new school. 

Dan drove them over that first morning as he 
had to go on some business. Rhoda really felt 


GROWING UP 


5 

grand as she stepped out of the carriage in a 
throng of the Morton-School children, who gave 
her a warm welcome. Furthermore, her seat was 
at the head of the second division. Laurel, un- 
like her twin, was a little shy. She and Amy kept 
in the shade. 

There really was a fine gathering of children. 
The playground, with its three swings, was a 
general delight. Matters went very well indeed. 
The oldest Merrill girl was quick to learn, and in 
the first division. Mrs. Merrill was very glad to 
have the school so near. She was now the 
happy mother of a new little son. 

Laurel and Amy soon had a little group to them- 
selves. Their teacher took an immediate fancy 
to Laurel. Rhoda explained that Laurel was very 
backward, but said no word about her being a 
twin. Miss Gooding, her teacher, thought her a 
very sweet child ; so neither had any complaints to 
make, though Rhoda was not at all enthusiastic. 

“ Bessy, let us go out for a walk,^^ Mr. Mann 
said one fine September evening. Tip was quite 
anxious to make a third, but his father objected. 

They walked a short distance in silence ; then 
he began rather hesitatingly, “ Bessy ” 

“ Well ? ” she replied, in her soft inquiring tone. 

“ I wanted a little talk without the children. 


6 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


They had a discussion a few days ago, and it has 
been on my mind. I did not think when I spoke 
of the difference it was going to make. And the 
children have noticed it. It took me so by sur- 
prise when Mr. Evans spoke, but I might have 
been a little more gentlemanly. I was really 
vexed. Amaryllis is such a child yet.” 

“ And still she is the oldest of our little group,” 
replied the mother. “ She has never pushed 
herself forward though she has many womanly 
ways, and sometimes I am really surprised by 
her bits of wisdom. I had somewhat of a 
mental protest against her growing up, but it is 
the law of nature, and there are so many behind 
her. She and Miss Evans have been very 
‘ chummy,’ to use the boys’ word, and I feel that 
it was delicately honorable in Mr. Evans to ex- 
plain matters, lest we might feel uncomfortable 
about it. But there really may nothing come of 
it.” 

‘‘ Y ou see I’d rather counted on it. She seems so 
like you. I’d ‘ lotted ’ on her, as old women say.” 

And I’ve been married twice and am not half 
a century old yet.” 

There was a laugh in Bessy’s voice as she 
spoke. 

“I don’t know that we would want to keep 


GROWING UP 


7 

them all single if we could,’* she continued. 
“ ‘ He set them in families.’ I’ve been very 
happy. By and by we shall be in the older 
generation, and drop out. They ought to have 
some happiness of their own.” 

‘‘ I didn’t think I should care so much for any 
one besides Chan, though I should love them all. 
And Chan has found his way very deeply into 
another heart. It seemed as if I couldn’t give 

up the second one. But ” 

It will be some while before we are asked to 
give her up. And in this case she will remain 
near by. She is rather serious-minded. I think 
the death of her friend Eunice made a deep im- 
pression on her. She is always happy in think- 
ing what she can do for others. Suppose, in- 
stead, she should want to be a missionary and go 
hundreds of miles away I ” 

“ Oh 1 It seems as if I could not consent to 
that ! ” exclaimed Mr. Mann. 

I think we had better let the matter follow 
the course a Wiser Finger marks out. I like 
Mr. Evans very much as a friend to the children 
and should be sorry to give him up. Can we 
not let it go as a Wiser Power wills ? I wish we 
were back on the old footing, but of late he has 
been so engrossed.” 


8 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ I ought to make some apology for my rude- 
ness. Tell me so, Bessy. 

“Oh, I think you know without telling. And 
you are getting to be one of the useful men of 
the place. People with means have duties, and 
honey is more effective than vinegar, even with 
flies.” 

Mr. Mann laughed. 

“ You are a wise little woman,” he said. “ I 
must be on the lookout to restore amity. Pve 
wanted to ask him a dozen questions myself. I 
hardly thought of being brought into so much 
public life.” 

“ I think I should mend it up ‘ when the sign 
comes right,’ as grandmother used to say. You 
know, I told you children were a care. You 
took a big burden on yourself.” 

“Well, I haven’t wanted to throw one of them 
overboard. I’d grown quite used to the thought 
of Chan slipping out, but we shall keep him 
some years yet. No, they can’t be children 
always. I’m glad I have them,” said the satisfied 
stepfather. 

She reached up and gave him a tender kiss. 
Then they turned about. The moon was com- 
ing up and outlined everything with the soft light. 

“You are glad you have the children, and I 


GROWING UP 


9 

am glad to have you,” she said in her soft, sweet 
tone. 

The children were through studying. Prim and 
Goldie playing checkers. Tip drawing an air- 
ship, and the two older ones repeating some 
Latin verbs. Chan was at the piano. 

‘‘ Oh, where did you go ? ” cried Primrose. 

‘‘Up and down the street, — nowhere to call,” 
Mr. Mann explained. 

“ And this came. The Brenner man brought 
itl” 

The throng rose to see what the handsome 
white envelope contained. 

Mr. Mann opened it. From a sheet of note- 
paper with a monogram he read : “ Mr. and 
Mrs. Mann are most cordially invited to meet 
Miss Elizabeth Evans and the Reverend Sidney 
Rainsford at the residence of Mr. Brenner, on 
the evening of Thursday, September nineteenth, 
at eight P. M.” 

“ Oh, Mother, do you suppose they are going 
to be married ? ” exclaimed Prim. 

“ They would be married in church,” an- 
nounced Amaryllis. “Mr. Evans thinks that 
the only place.” 

“ No, it is some kind of evening company,” 
explained Mrs. Mann. 


lo RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


“ And some of us are not asked,” said Prim 
lugubriously. 

“ It isn’t a children’s party.” 

“And, Mother, you haven’t any real party 
dress.” 

“ Mother must have one then,” said Mr. 
Mann. 

“ I suppose it must be finer than just for go- 
ing out to spend the evening,” mused Prim. 

“ Mrs. Chedister has some lovely ones, and 
Mrs. Greer has a ball dress,” suggested Rilla. 

“ Bessy, you will have to go to the city ! ” an- 
nounced Mr. Mann. 

Mrs. Mann looked a little troubled. 

“ You will have to be pretty quick, too — ^just 
a week.” 

The little mother gave a sigh. She had not 
begun on the fashionable round yet. 

“ I’m sure they are going to be married I ” 
declared Primrose. “ Then she will have to go 
to India with him. And I’d just begun to like 
her so much.” 

“You might beg her to stay here,” said their 
father. 

“ But wives always go with their husbands,” 
wailed Prim. “ Oh, it will be awfully lonesome 
for Mr. Evans I ” 


GROWING UP II 

“ It’s time you went to bed, children,” called 
the mother. 

“We must finish our game first,” pleaded 
Prim. 

Linn began to put away his books. But as 
their game was so long, and each was so sure of 
winning. Prim and Goldie finally put the checker- 
board away in a safe place. 

Mrs. Mann laid her troubles before Mrs. 
Greer, a helpful friend as well as good neigh- 
bor. 

“Yes, you ought to have a nice evening 
dress,” said that lady. “We’re likely to be 
rather gay this season. The Hamptons will 
have a great time when they get in their new 
house, and they’ll ask most of the old residents. 
Grafton is going to be a very stylish place, I tell 
you. The Bells have sent a lot of old curiosities 
to the Museum and Ridgewood rather envies 
us.” 

Mr. Mann insisted that Amaryllis should go to 
choose her mother’s dress. 

“ Get something real pretty that isn’t going to 
make an old woman of her.” 

“ Oh, I can’t think of Mother being real old. 
Don’t you wish she could wear her own wedding 
dress ? ” 


12 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


“ Oh, no, that’s just for us, and she looks 
sweeter in it every time.” 

They went down Saturday morning. Mrs. 
Greer had grown very friendly, as Mr. Greer 
was one of the Museum trustees. Mrs. Greer 
knew the best places to go, but Bessy was be- 
wildered by the great array. 

Mr. Mann met them for luncheon. They had 
seen three very appropriate gowns. Mrs. Greer 
had excellent taste. 

*‘I want it to be one I can wear on almost 
any nice occasion,” said Bessy, “and not look 
overdressed.” 

Amaryllis had set her heart on a pretty bro- 
caded silk in which the colors were so blended 
that it was neither light nor dark. This was 
trimmed with some lovely lace. 

“ I don’t know but it is the prettiest of the 
three,” admitted Mrs. Greer. “Amaryllis, you 
have remarkable taste for a little girl.” 

“ It looks like Mother,” and the daughter 
smiled. 

Then they went to the alteration room, and the 
gown was tried on. The waist was rather loose, 
the sleeves too long, and the shoulders had to 
be taken in a bit. It would be done on Monday, 
and sent by express. 


GROWING UP 


13 

** You are the least troublesome shoppers I ever 
saw/* said Mrs. Greer. “ Oh, you should go out 
with some people ! 

Then they went to a lunch room and visited 
a picture gallery on the top floor, as there were 
a few little odds and ends to purchase. Mrs. 
Greer thanked them for an entertaining day. 

Rilla had to describe the dress to the children, 
who were disappointed that the shoppers hadn’t 
brought it home. 

“ If it only looks like Mother,” said Chan. 
‘‘And Fm glad it has lace on it. I like lace. 
The Countess used to wear such lovely laces. 
And Fm glad Mother has a diamond ring I ” 

They were delighted with the dress. Mr. 
Mann brought the mother a cluster of partly- 
opened rosebuds. He thought of what Tip had 
once called her, “ The beautifullest mother.” 

Mr. and Mrs. Greer accepted a seat in the 
carriage. The children declared they were go- 
ing to sit up to “ hear all about it.” 

“ A pretty, rather informal affair it was,” their 
mother said on her return. “ Most of the church 
people were there. Miss Evans wore a lovely 
lavender silk with a black lace over-dress and a 
bunch of beautiful white half-blown roses. She 
looked young and happy. And Mrs. Brenner 


14 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

made the most delightful speech announcing 
the engagement and their departure about the 
middle of October ; and wishing them all happi- 
ness in their new life, and that they would take 
with them the kindliest wishes and the most 
fervent prayers for their future welfare and hap- 
piness. It was very pleasant. Mrs. Brenner is 
a really charming woman, and so cordial. Then, 
it was almost like a wedding. We all con- 
gratulated them, and everything was so pleasant. 
I had a really enjoyable time. And the future 
bride and her lover are coming to tea Sunday 
evening.^^ 

Linn clapped his hands and the rest followed 
suit. 

** I thought Fd wait until some of the big 
people had invited them,” said Bessy, with a 
warm color that made her look still more girlish. 
“ But I felt we had been such nice friends.” 

‘‘ And I am sorry to have her go,” de- 
clared Amaryllis. I had come to like her so 
much.” 

** But what will Mr. Evans do without her ? 
They are so much to each other,” said Chan. 

“I wonder if you will marry a missionary, 
Rilla?” questioned Linn. “You seem cut out 
for one. You’re always hunting up people in 


GROIFING UP 


IS 

* need and necessity ’ ; and Linn brought a 
warm color to the girl’s cheek. 

‘‘ Oh, I couldn’t go so far away from you all.” 

Amaryllis caught her mother’s arm and kissed 
her fondly. 

“Children, it is past midnight, and we must 
all go to bed. You really should not have sat 
up for us.” 

“ But we wanted to,” and the voices were in 
unison. 

They were rather sleepy the next morning but 
the subject had not lost its interest. 

“ And was she really married ? ” asked Rhoda. 

“ Oh, no, it was only an announcement party.” 

“ That’s so people can send presents in, I sup- 
pose,” rejoined the child. 

“Presents might be cumbersome on such a 
long journey,” remarked Chan. 


CHAPTER II 


A MARRIAGE AND A PARTING 

Quite a procession walked down the street 
Sunday afternoon. Linn led the younger chil- 
dren, Rilla and the girls came next, and several 
of the neighbors followed the family party. 
It was a lovely day. Few of the leaves had 
fallen yet, and the gardens and vines were still 
in bloom. The clematis shook out snowy clus- 
ters, and there were mounds of chrysanthe- 
mums. All the air was sweet with fragrance. 

Cap had been requested to set the table for 
the younger children in the play-room. Tip had 
objected. 

“You’ll have just the same things to eat and 
you won’t be crowded. You are not big folks 
yet,” commented Cap. 

Rhoda sniffed a little, but she knew objecting 
was no use. 

Bessy made a charming hostess. She had 
grown quite accustomed to society ways ; and 
since Mr. Mann had been called to take a part 
in neighborhood matters, she felt she must in her 

i6 


GROWING UP 


17 

way support him. But she was altogether at 
home with the rector and his sister. And the 
children acquitted themselves most creditably. 

Mr. Rainsford had become much interested in 
them. They all bewailed Chan’s absence. 

“ That is quite a remarkable position for one 
so young, I should think. I went to hear him a 
fortnight ago when I spent the day in the city,” 
remarked Mr. Rainsford. 

“ He has been taken in hand by a fine musical 
conductor, and that will be the boy’s profession,” 
said his father. “We are sorry to have him 
away from us over Sunday, but there seems no 
help for that. He has a lovely home with a 
member of the choir. I take him down on Satur- 
day and bring him back Monday. We do not 
like to have him travel alone. His real music- 
teacher is here in town.” 

“We must have him sing some evening here 
in church with the organ,” said the rector. 
“ Why, there doesn’t seem time for half the 
things we have planned.” 

“ Well, I think we have done a good deal. I 
wanted to see so many old places, to meet peo- 
ple, to hear sermons and addresses. I have a 
great deal to take back with me, but there is a 
great deal more, I should admit, that I must 


1 8 RED HO USE CHILDREN 


make myself content without. But I do want to 
see and hear your musical son, Mr. Mann.” 

“ Any evening that you are at liberty, Mr. 
Rainsford.” 

They settled upon Wednesday evening. Mr. 
Evans would see the organist and some of the 
singers, enough to make a chorus. 

The children wanted to hear more about 
India and the Hindu children. There had been 
one talk given to the Sunday-school, but the bits 
of every-day life were so interesting. And the 
temples, the scenery, the strange habits, the 
work they were doing, the heathen gods, and 
curious customs were most fascinating. Then 
the church bell rang for the short evening serv- 
ice, and the older children wanted to go. 

“ He is just delightful,” declared Prim. “ I 
don’t wonder Miss Evans fell in love with him.” 

And then she had to give him up. She is 
just as tranquil and sweet as if she never had 
made a sacrifice.” 

“ Well, that is what makes people lovely,” 
remarked Marigold. ** But I suppose the sacri- 
fices are hard when you make them.” 

The children sat on the porch afterward, and 
talked the visit over. Mr. Rainsford was very 
enthusiastic about them. 


GROWING UP 


19 

And their mother ” said Mr. Evans. “ I 

hardly see how she has managed the little flock 
to have them all so well behaved. It is funny 
that when they first came Grafton people 
seemed to think they were going to be detri- 
mental. They are very full of fun — the j oiliest 
family I know, and so fond of each other. But 
Chan is the flower of the flock.” 

“ Amaryllis is my favorite,” said Miss Evans. 
“ She isn’t so showy at first, but she is always 
thinking of what she can do for others, and doing 
so many sweet little things. Sidney, she would 
make a splendid missionary.” 

“ I’m afraid her father wouldn’t consent,” Mr. 
Evans said hurriedly. “ She is the apple of his 
eye, although she isn’t his own child.” 

They agreed upon Wednesday evening, and 
began to call it Chandler’s Concert. There were 
no invitations given out but the church was 
lighted up, at which people wondered a little and 
went to see what was happening. 

“ You are very good to do this, Chan,” said 
Mr. Evans. 

“ Oh, don’t you know I am glad to do any- 
thing for you ! And it is such a pleasure to sing 
in this dear little chapel. I enjoy the summer 
Sundays so much.” 


20 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


The first measure was “ How Beautiful Upon the 
Mountains ! Chan’s voice had improved very- 
much, — grown stronger and richer. It kept that 
wonderful power of picture-making by its clear, 
vivid intonation. There were enough voices for 
a fair chorus, and it would have done for a pay 
entertainment. Then came the Shepherds’ 
Hymn — the low, sweet melody in the starlight 
with the faint organ accompaniment and the out- 
burst of the glorious words that fairly thrilled 
through the church. 

Following that was a beautiful aria, and then 
“ Behold the Lamb of God ! ” 

‘‘ Now you must take a rest,” said Mr. Evans. 
“ Shall we go down-stairs and talk a little ? ” 

Chan was used to compliments, and still kept 
the old joy of giving pleasure. 

“ What a shame you didn’t give this out,” 
said Mrs. Bradley. “ Why, we should have had 
the whole town here ! ” 

“ It was just for Mr. Rainsford,” said the 
rector ; “ though he did hear him one Sunday 
in New York, but that was the regular service. 
I wanted him to hear that first one. You know 
he sang it here for the first time and it will 
always be connected with this little church of 
his childhood.” 


GROWING UP 


21 


** One can say of him that he has the voice of 
an angel/' said Mr. Rainsford. “ It is certainly 
a divine gift. You have a brilliant future, my 
child,” and placed his hands on the boy’s head. 

“ I love to sing those beautiful things,” Chan 
said simply. 

“ Thank you times without number,” began 
the rector. “ But I think you have done 
enough ; so I will dismiss the audience. But 
I wish you and Goldie would come into the 
house and give that bird song for Mr. Rainsford. 
Could you ? ” 

“ Why, if Goldie would.” 

“ If there isn't to be any one else,” said Goldie 
rather bashfully. 

Mr. Evans made a little address explaining 
that it had been necessary to have an organ 
accompaniment, and that they had not meant 
any public entertainment, but hoped the au- 
dience would feel paid for their trouble. 

There was such an ovation then that Chan 
longed to run away. 

‘‘ Oh,” said one lady, ‘‘ could we arrange to 
have you give a concert for the church fund ? ” 
That would have to be as Mr. Gwynne said,” 
returned the rector. ‘‘ He is Chandler's musical 
director. 


22 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


Oh, please try to persuade him.” 

They managed presently to get into the rec- 
tory with only the Bradleys. Then Miss Evans 
insisted that they should have some refresh- 
ments and that Chan should tell the story of 
little Arthur. Mr. Rainsford said it was pretty 
enough to go in print. After this the other 
story of the two cornet players followed. 

Then the children began. They had added 
some beautiful new strains to the song, and 
Mr. Rainsford listened with intense interest. 

“That is a beautiful thing. I don’t wonder 
your friend adapted it to the cornets. And you 
children do it wonderfully. I can’t express how 
much delight you have both given me. Eliza- 
beth, it is one of the very beautiful memories 
we shall carry away with us. You are fortunate 
children to possess such gifts. I think this is 
one of my most delightful evenings. Those 
two anthems will be among my happiest re- 
membrances. Thank you again and again.” 

“ I’m glad I was able to do it for you,” re- 
turned Chan with a smile. 

“ It was all fine,” exclaimed Prim on their re- 
turn home. “ And think how many folks were 
out. Why, we could have a splendid concert! 
We should make as much as fifty dollars, surely.” 


GROWING UP 


23 

“ Fifty dollars I ” cried Linn in disdain. ‘‘ I 
wouldn’t exploit Chan for less than a hundred 
or two. Oh, I wish Mr. Gwynne would consent. 
Let us write a round-robin letter to him.” 

” Let us all go to bed,” said Amaryllis, sup- 
pressing a yawn. 

Mrs. Brenner drove over the next afternoon 
in a pretended state of great indignation, and 
Amaryllis had to explain how Chan’s recital 
came about. Then they all talked at once, 
each one adding something that had escaped 
the other. 

“ They came only out of curiosity, you see, 
and I heard one lady say she thought Miss 
Evans was going to be married. Oh, they 
were all so surprised I Chan did sing beauti- 
fully. You can hear every word.” 

'‘He enunciates with remarkable clearness. 
And, Goldie, your bird imitation was splen- 
did.” 

Prim made a sweeping courtesy and started 
away. 

The next evening Mr. and Mrs. Brenner came 
over to talk about the concert for the church. 
It would have to be at Ridgewood where there 
was an adequately large hall. And, of course, 
they would have to get some other talent, as 


24 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

Chan and Goldie should not be asked to do all 
the work, but they must have the bird chorus. 
Would the principal performers agree ? It 
must be about Thanksgiving time ; and it 
must be kept a secret until nearly then. But 
first Mr. Gwynne and Mr. and Mrs. Mann must 
be consulted. 

“ I don’t think I’d ask it for any other object. 
Mr. Evans has taken so much hard work upon 
himself we ought to help,” said Mrs. Brenner. 

“ Well, if Mr. Gwynne approves of it. I think, 
too, from what I’ve heard of disappointments, we 
need not feel doubtful about success. And I’m 
going to ask you children to do this : one of you 
must write a note to Mr. Gwynne, and all the 
rest sign it. I think the writer had better be 
Linn. And I will write a letter explaining the 
business part and how we expect to do it. You 
see I want a high-up entertainment. I can’t have 
Chan lowered in any respect.” 

Oh, how good you are I ” Chan came and 
caught her hands in a fond pressure. 

“ Well, it is my church, you know ; and I am 
anxious for your success, as well, though I think 
you won’t suffer for lack of appreciation in Mr. 
Gwynne’s hands. And now, children, do you 
think you can keep a secret so long ? It will be 


GROWING UP 


25 

rather trying when you hear people wishing for 
this very thing.” 

They all were sure they could. 

“ For you know there isn^t anything positive 
until we get our word from the captain of all.” 

“ I wonder if I could write the letter ? ” said 
Linn hesitatingly. 

‘‘You may come to me if you are in danger 
of being stranded, though I think your father 
could help you out. Not a word to Mr. Evans 
either.” 

They were a long while in saying good-night, 
and it really was a sympathetic good-night. 

“ It would be splendid if we could make a 
hundred dollars,” said Primrose. 

“ I wouldn’t stir in it if we couldn’t make more 
than that,” ejaculated Linn disdainfully. 

“ Children, you must go to bed.” 

“That’s Mother’s nightly benison,” laughed 
the boy. 

“ Oh, suppose we should forget to go to bed 
some time ! ” said Primrose. 

“ We’d be found in the trenches the next 
morning,” laughed Linn. 

Their mother cautioned them again the next 
morning. But there was a little rumor that 
Chan had been giving a concert in the church, 


26 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


and why hadn’t it been announced ? Linn did 
long to tell Stuart, but bravely resisted the temp- 
tation. And Mrs. Brenner said his appeal could 
not be bettered. 

But the coming marriage attracted the general 
attention, fortunately for them. It would be in 
the church at noon, on the tenth of October ; then 
the bridal couple would go to the city, and take 
the steamer at five in the afternoon for Liverpool, 
spend the rest of the month in London, and then 
make a brief sojourn at Paris, after which they 
would take the Mediterranean tour and the Suez 
Canal. 

“ I shall miss you so much,” said Amaryllis. 

“ Yes, we have become dear friends, though 
I am years older. But there will be several 
growing up to take my place and you must love 
them and have good times with them. And it 
seems to me as if I were going right among 
friends. One of my schoolmates married a very 
charming man. This girl and I were almost 
like sisters. Four years ago, Mr. Rainsford per- 
suaded them to come out to him. She had no 
near relatives to leave, and she really begged me 
to join her. There was a reason why I did not 
want to go out to the college,” — and Elizabeth 
flushed. The next year two quite young girls 


GROWING UP 


27 

I had known very well went out. Then Mr. 
Rainsford^s wife died. We friends went on with 
the correspondence, and — all this has come 
about. So I don’t feel as if I were going among 
strangers. And I shall have a dear love that I 
felt best to give up years ago, and which God 
has now restored. I don’t believe you can 
understand it all now, but after we have written 
to each other a few years you will. I felt strange 
and lonely when I first came here, but I liked 
your mother so much and you children were so 
interesting. And now I’m going to ask a favor 
of you. I’m not going to have a bridesmaid 
and all that, but I want you to stand by me, — a 
sweet little maid, and hold my glove and flowers, 
and I’d like you and your mother to go down to 
the steamer with us and wish us bon voyage, 
Mrs. Brenner is going and perhaps Mrs. Bradley. 
And you must wish me much joy and happiness, 
for I shall be happy with the new duties, even if 
I am in a strange place. I have always longed 
for some nice journeys, and now they have come 
to me. But I shall take great pleasure in hearing 
how you develop, and what happens, and how 
Chan becomes a famous singer, and how pretty 
and sweet little Laurel will be, and the curious 
things Tip will invent. Goldie will be a great 


28 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


singer, too. And I shall tell you curious things 
about the Hindu children. Oh, we will not 
seem so far apart.” 

Amaryllis winked away some tears. As soon 
as she could steady her^voice, she said : 

“ It is very sweet of you, dear Miss Elizabeth, 
to ask me to do that, and I shall be glad to. And 
since you are going to be so happy I shall re- 
joice in that, and you won’t mind if I do miss you 
a good deal at first. I shall have a good many 
things to study and to do.” 

Miss Evans was walking down the street with 
Amaryllis when Mr. Evans joined them, and they 
had to talk over Chan’s lovely evening given to 
them. 

“ And Goldie was so fine in that bird melody,” 
said Mr. Evans. ” I’m thinking Chan won’t be 
the only famous one.” 

Amaiyllis was glad to hear Goldie praised, as 
the eldest sister felt she herself had no genius, 
and was to be just a helper. 

October came in delightfully ; the days ran 
along in lovely sunshine, a profusion of flowers, 
and the ripening of fruit. The wedding day 
was faultless. Mr. Brenner gave away the 
bride, who was in hat and traveling costume. 
The little maid accompanying her was in the 


GROWING UP 


29 

softest gray and pink. The chapel was full of 
friends whose congratulations were tender and 
hearty. A procession of carriages went down to 
the train, and with it a great box full of splendid 
flowers. 

Amaryllis thought the steamer a floating 
palace surely. In their farewells there was little 
time for sadness ; it hardly seemed a reai parting 
for years. 

Mrs. Brenner carried off the clergyman. An 
agreeable, elderly woman was to act as house- 
keeper at the rectory. The recent social event 
made quite a stir at Grafton, and the pros- 
pect of the new church interested the people 
and drew them together. The young people 
first discussed a fair, then a supper, as the 
best way of adding to the fund. The larger 
schoolgirls were in favor of the fair ; they 
would have such fun meeting together to make 
things. 

Then came the letter from Mr. Gwynne. He 
thought favorably of the plan, but felt they 
should consult Professor Vincenzio, and that 
they would have to secure some notable talent 
besides Chan. He suggested a violin solo or 
two, and a skilled pianist, also, and advised the 
committee to talk the matter over with Miss 


30 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

Griswold, the teacher with whom Chan lived 
while in New York. 

One Monday morning Chan was playing — or 
more properly, improvising — on Miss Griswold’s 
piano, when she paused and listened thought- 
fully. 

“What is that, Chan?” she asked presently. 
“I’ve heard you play some of it before, but I 
can’t recall it.” 

“It is part of my ‘opera,’” returned Chan 
with a laugh. 

“Are you writing an opera, you wonderful 
child ? ” 

“ Not writing it, but playing it in parts. Do 
you like the music ? ” 

“ Why, some strains are exquisite. Can you 
carry them in your mind ? You really ought to 
write them out.” 

“ Do you think they are worth anything ? ” 

“ Why, Chan, they are too good to lose. 
There are some really good voluntaries in them. 
Do you play them often ? ” 

“ Oh, I did in the beginning, but Miss Raynor, 
my school-teacher, didn’t like it. And they used 
to float through my head in school. Oh, I was a 
poor scholar and used to get low marks.” 

Chan laughed gleefully. 


GROWING UP 


31 

“ That’s improvising, and may some time be 
composing.” She studied the child with a kind 
of amazement. 

“ Oh, Miss Griswold, I want to tell you some- 
thing that is a secret as yet. We want to make 
some money for our new church. Some of the 
people stayed in the evening I sang those 
anthems for Mr. Rainsford. We didn’t really 
ask many, but when they saw the church lighted 
they thought Miss Evans might be getting 
married. And then some . of them felt rather 
‘ miffed ’ that they had not been invited. And 
some one started an idea that I ought to give a 
real concert, with tickets and all that. Mrs. 
Brenner took up the suggestion. I’ve told you 
how lovely she has been to us. They have 
‘ money to burn,’ as the boys say. Mrs. Brenner 
subscribed five hundred dollars to the fund at 
once, and she has taken up this concert project. 
We all wrote to Mr. Gwynne, and he consented.” 

“ And you are to be the real attraction.” 

‘T want to do what I can. We must not pay 
for too much talent ; then, I think they really 
want me to sing. Mr. Gwynne has chosen that 
beautiful lullaby in German. To think I sang it 
when I didn’t know but a few German words! 
And the Echo Song, I can sing four times. 


32 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

And I want to play something ; I’ll just call it 
a ‘ Fantasia.’ Do you think I might venture to 
do it ?” 

“ Oh, Chan ! ” and his teacher smiled. ‘‘ Why, 
I think we could arrange it. You have such an 
exquisite touch on the piano. Are you sure you 
won’t do too much ? And you would have to 
use some notes lest you might get confused.” 

“ Oh, I wouldn’t get confused. I play it over 
so often in the evenings. Father likes it so, and 
Mrs. Brenner thinks it is good.” 

“ Play it over again, please. Oh, Chan, you 
certainly are a genius I Yes, it will be a very 
fine piece. But if you should get a little con- 
fused ” 

“ Then I’d put in something else and go 
straight on. It’s all in my head, you know. 
And we must have some violins. And if we 
could have that bird chorus. But we must be 
through by ten sharp, Mr. Gwynne says.” 

“ That Tracy boy plays the violin exceptionally 
well, and has been at several concerts ; though 
I think the audience will want mostly to hear 
you sing.” 

“ And it doesn’t tire me at all. Why, I go 
singing about the house ; and when Mother sits 
sewing, I sing to her. She knows some pretty. 


GROIVING UP 


33 

old ballads, which I like better than the newer 
songs, though they are often sad. And you can 
hardly think how I am getting on with my Ger- 
man. Rilla is studying it, and a little Italian 
also, with me.^’ 

“ If you are not tired, will you go over the 
* Fantasia * again ? 

“ Oh, no, Fm not a bit tired. I slept so late 
this morning ; ” and, with a smile, the boy began 
the piece again. 

I don’t believe you will need notes, after all,” 
Miss Griswold said. 

” Why, you know scholars memorize and pro- 
fessors seldom use notes. Oh, I’m so glad you 
think it good enough to play to an audience.” 
And his eyes were alight with joy. 

Then luncheon was ready, and afterward they 
went out for a walk. 

” Chan,” Miss Griswold began, ‘‘ I want you 
to make a call with me upon Miss Balcolm, who 
is a fine accompanist, and does much concert 
work. I’d like to have her hear this composi- 
tion. I have been so charmed with it, and with 
you, that I may not be an impartial judge.” 

” Oh, I should be glad to. I’d like her opinion 
myself.” 

They had a pleasant call, and Miss Balcolm, 


34 red house children 

who appeared very glad to have Chandler play 
for her, as he went on, listened more intently 
and with evident pleasure. 

“That is a very charming thing,” she said. 
“Whose music is it? I’d like to get a copy.” 

Chan blushed, and looked at Miss Griswold. 

“ We may as well tell the truth : it is Chan- 
dler’s composing. And we wanted an opinion 
on it.” 

“ Why, how long have you played it ? ” Miss 
Balcolm exclaimed amazedly. 

“ Oh, ’most always,” returned Chan ; “ at 
first in bits ; then I put them together. I liked 
it very much, and have gone over it until I do 
know it by heart.” 

“ I think it might come to be a great favorite. 
Oh, I wish you would write it out, and let me 
have a copy. I’d keep it secret as long as you 
wish.” 

“ Oh, thank you for your appreciation.” 

“ You may rest assured it is not flattery,” Miss 
Balcolm declared. 

It was a very light-hearted lad that went back 
to Grafton. 


CHAPTER III 


WORKING FOR A PURPOSE 

When Chan came up from the SignoPs the 
next day, he went directly to Mrs. Brenner’s. 
She had not been idle, but had several plans. 

“You know that fantasia with the airy pas- 
sages that you like to hear me play ? ” 

“ That one that you improvised ? Yes. Could 
you do anything with it ? Why, it would make 
a fine interlude,” Mrs. Brenner replied. 

“ I played before two good judges, and they 
were surprised that it was my composing. And 
they thought it would be an excellent thing, if I 
didn’t forget here and there, or get confused — as 
if I was likely to when I’ve played it for two 
years and dreamed over it, and gone to sleep 
with it in my mind ! ” 

“ Oh — Chandler ! Now, let us count up the 
time for a program. How long for the songs ? ” 

She seated herself at the piano, and Chan 
hunted up the music. He sang his very best. 
Mrs. Brenner thought she had never heard the 
35 . 


36 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ Echo Song ” rendered better. Next she timed 
the other ; then Chan played his “ Fantasia.’* 

“ There is always some interval between songs, 
you know. Mr. Brenner knows a fine violinist 
who will give his services for the good of the 
cause,” Mrs. Brenner went on laughingly, “ and 
to hear you. We ought to have a duet, a flute 
and a violin. And then, you are to sing twice 
after the intermission. Oh, we’ll have enough 
talent — we needn’t fear.” 

“ How encouraging you are.” 

“ Well, it is my church, you know. Oh, don’t 
get up with that going-home look,” begged his 
hostess. 

“ I promised Father I’d be home to dinner.” 

“Well, come in to-morrow night. We must 
decide which hall we will have.” 

“ Thank you for all your goodness,” returned 
Chan. 

At home the children gave him a hearty wel- 
come, and his mother was as usual happiest of 
all at his return, for his absences seemed to grow 
longer instead of shorter, and, moreover, there 
was always Sunday to talk about. 

“ And Cap is going to her sister’s at Wal- 
worth to stay two whole days,” announced Tip. 
“ Supposin’ she shouldn’t come back I ” 


GROWING UP 


37 

“ Oh, but she is sure to. We wouldn’t let her 
go otherwise.” 

“ Cap ought to have a little vacation now and 
then. She is very good and faithful,” said their 
mother. 

“ Her sister isn’t ill ? ” queried Chan. 

‘‘ Oh, no.” 

“ It’s ’cause I have a chance to be called for 
like an express bundle,” said Cap entering the 
room with a great platter of dinner. “ I’m not 
much stuck on going, but a chance is a chance. 
And now come to dinner.” 

During the first part of vacation Cap had 
made a visit to her sister’s to welcome a new 
little boy and stayed almost a week. The girls 
thought it quite fun then to help keep house, but 
now as they were all in school. Cap would go on 
Wednesday morning and come home Thursday 
afternoon. Tuesday she finished ironing, cooked 
enough for two days. She wondered a little what 
was taking Joe Alston over to Ridgewood so 
early, but he was at the Manns’ by ten, looking 
well and pleased over his errand. 

Your sister would have been awful disap- 
pointed if you’d refused,” Joe said to Cap. 
“When I was over there Sunday night and 
spoke of my coming down, she said she’d write 


38 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

for you to come up with me. She’d like you to 
stay till Sunday. I’ll bring you down then.” 

“ Then I’ll ask Dan to come up Thursday 
afternoon, for that’s as long as I can stay. Why, 
we’re not through house-cleaning yet. There’s 
been so much goin’ on. Just wait till she gets a 
house full of children, sister ’ll think there’s some- 
thing to do.” 

Joe only laughed. 

Cap went down on her visit with only her little 
hand-satchel. 

“ I’m not going to take a rag, and I’ll be back 
to-morrow night. You know we’d lotted on doing 
up the third floor,” she explained to Mrs. Mann. 

“ But there isn’t any real hurry,” volunteered 
Mrs. Mann. 

“ I can’t be visiting all the time,” said Cap. 
“ Last week it was up to Mother’s. You’ll dis- 
charge me pretty soon.” 

The maid and the mistress laughed, but Cap 
sprang into the wagon as if she were not much 
afraid. 

It was a fine autumn day with a westerly 
wind. The house was all in order. There was 
a pile of mending which Mrs. Mann took up- 
stairs. After the departure of the three youngest 
children who came home to luncheon, the house 


GROWING UP 


39 

was quiet again until almost five. No one hap- 
pened to come in. The busy mother mended 
stockings and sewed on buttons, and meanwhile 
planned her trip down to New York in a week 
or two in order to begin purchasing winter out- 
fits. Oh, how good it was not to have to study 
how to pinch and make over I How many times 
she had given thanks for all the blessings show- 
ered upon them ! 

Then came the children flocking home from 
school. 

Can’t I go iii to Amy’s ? ” began one of the 
small crew. 

Tip went out to the barn, and had a frolic with 
Pilot. Rhoda settled to her lessons, and presently 
the others came rushing in. Rilla went to her 
half-hour’s music, then she came into the kitchen 
to help. There were on hand plenty of chicken 
and some tasty cold ham, the potatoes previously 
prepared by Dan, and some Indian pudding to 
fry up. 

“ Did you miss Cap very much ? ’’ asked Prim. 

I kept so busy with the mending that I 
thought of little else. It is all done excepting a 
few stockings,” her mother replied. 

“ What shall we have to-morrow ? ” Prim asked 
somewhat anxiously. 


40 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ Why, the butcher will come. You need not 
expect to starve. ” 

“ But I shall think of you toiling and moil- 
ing 

Mrs. Mann laughed. 

“Just for a day without Cap. Oh, I am not 
worn out yet.” 

Then Rilla went in and began with the table. 
Father’s cheerful voice sounded down the gar- 
den- way and they all ran out to meet him. 
They did miss Cap for the waiting, but they 
cheerfully handed things while talking and laugh- 
ing. Afterward, the girls looked after the dishes. 

Linn went to his studies, and asked if Rill 
wouldn’t come in and do a bit of Latin with him. 
Goldie did a half-hour’s music practice. Chan 
was really tired, and took to the sofa. He could 
not even talk of the day’s adventures. It did 
seem strange without Cap’s cheerful voice. 

And it was odd to get up the next morning 
and prepare breakfast. Dan had the kettle 
on and the oatmeal-boiler steaming. The house 
was so strangely quiet. But not for long. Soon 
there was a huddle of children, all making com- 
ments on the novelty. 

“ Why, Cap was away almost a week last 
summer,” their mother reminded them. 


GROWING UP 


41 

** Well, that was vacation. You expect queer 
things to happen then.” 

And we had plenty of time to help. I 
thought housekeeping real fun,” Prim added. 

“ Rilla, you get Laurel ready.” 

“ And ril braid Rhoda’s hair,” offered Prim. 

Rhoda was tired of the brush now, but as her 
hair was not thick enough to make two nice 
braids, there was only one “ tail.” 

Then the lunches were put up, but they were 
all off in time with many kisses. 

Yes, there was a good deal of work ; a great 
many dishes to wash. Then there were all the 
chambers to be put in order ; discarded clothes 
to be picked up. And the busy housekeeper had 
just put herself in order when Mrs. Brenner 
called. 

“ Did Chan tell you all the things that hap- 
pened yesterday ? ” Mrs. Brenner asked. 

“No — nothing bad, I hope. He was so tired. 
Cap had gone away on a visit to her sister’s, 
and the girls were out here helping me. He 
laid down on the sofa and went to sleep. Noth- 
ing discouraging, I hope.” 

“ Oh, no. It was all very good. Well, I sup- 
pose he hardly had a chance. There are so 
many to talk. Providence should have sent us 


42 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

about half of them. I don’t know that I ought 
to spoil his pleasure in telling. We have made 
out quite a program already. I suppose you’ve 
heard him play that lovely thing he calls his 
‘ Fantasia ’ ? ” 

“He plays so many of those snatches that run 
through his brain that I can’t keep track of 
them. How they used to worry Miss Raynor ! ” 
and she laughed. “But they always pleased 
his father.” 

“ Two of the ladies in the city think it very 
beautiful, and he plays it exquisitely. So that 
is selected for his piano part. And that ‘ Echo 
Song’ is beautiful. I suppose it needs a man’s 
voice in a large hall. We shall have to see 
where Chan’s voice sounds best. I am going 
over to meet him at the Signor’s this after- 
noon. And I believe Chan has been offered 
some violin players. I think any one would be 
delighted to help the boy along. He appeals to 
all our hearts. Some day you’ll have a famous 
son.” 

Mrs. Mann winked vigorously to keep the 
tears out of her eyes. God had given him the 
gift ; why should she rebel ! 

“ I hope they will all be good,” she returned 
with feeling. 


GROWING UP 


43 

“ It seems to me large families often turn out 
better than small ones. Mr. Brenner has a 
cousin whose six boys have turned out first 
class, and his two daughters are charming. 
And sometimes just one in such a family comes 
to grief.’’ 

“ The one who gets indulged too much, and 
can follow out his own whims,” Mrs. Mann 
suggested. 

“ I wish your maid were at home, and you 
could go out with me this fine morning. I 
feel like talking to some one. But I must not 
take your time now. May we both come over 
this evening ? ” 

'‘Why, yes,” Mrs. Mann responded most 
cordially. 

“ rd like to steal Chan, so I could have him 
every day. And Mrs. Bradley wants Primrose. 
And two or three people want that dear little 
Laurel. Well, adieu until to-night.” 

Mrs. Chedister watched the pretty coupe 
drive away. Strange, she thought, that Mrs. 
Mann should be such an attraction. 

" Those people have grown very thicky seems 
to me,” she mused. 

Cap did not come home in the morning. 
Mrs. Mann did some up-stairs sweeping, and 


44 red house children 

gave the children their lunch. There were 
some calls in the afternoon. In the evening 
Chan had so much to tell that they quite forgot 
about Cap. 

Mrs. Mann had just finished clearing up the 
dining-room the next morning when Joe Alston^s 
big gray came slowly up the driveway. Cap 
sprang out without any help and shook her 
head very decidedly at something Joe said. 
She opened the door, and Joe touched his hat 
to her as he turned around to call out a laugh- 
ing good-by with “ Sunday afternoon.” 

Cap walked straight into the kitchen, and 
dropped down in the first chair, her face glow- 
ing with indignation. 

“What they wanted me for was his folks — 
an old aunt and her husband was going to 
have a golden weddin’, and Sheba wanted me 
to come and care for the baby. She didn’t 
da’st to say three days for fear Fd put her off. 
Well, it’s the beatin’est thing ! They made it 
up between them, I know. The folks met about 
four, and had a big dinner. The old couple are 
past eighty. The minister came over, and mar- 
ried them again. And Sheba’s hopin’ she’ll live 
to have a golden weddin’. And Joe came over 
in the evening and — and ” 


GROWING UP 


45 

Cap took ofi her hat, and began to fan her- 
self with it. 

“ And asked you to marry him,” said Mrs. 
Mann. 

“ Well, I declare ! How did you come to think 
of that ? There ^ain’t been no courtin’.” 

“ I was thinking what a good husband you’d 
get. And I really did hope ” 

“ I’ve felt a little troubled about Abe. But I 
gave him fair warning. I said I’d never go to 
that tumble-down shell, nor any other mean 
place. I ain’t so hot-foot to get married while 
I have such a good home. So I s’pose I really 
don’t owe him anything in the way of promise. 
He hasn’t been near me in weeks. But I didn’t 
want to make talk.” 

I think you don’t owe him anything.” 

“ Something he said kind of madded me, 
wonderin’ how I’d took up with him. He 
seemed real ambitious at first and I had an idea 
we could work along, but he got tired of this 
and that. He was doin’ pretty well at the 
creamery until that Fowler got hold of him, and 
he did think we could buy a farm between us, 
but I said I wouldn’t put a dollar of my money 
in any such place as that. I’ve saved up quite a 
bit. Father wondered if I hadn’t some to put 


46 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

out, but I knew Fd never see it again if he once 
got hold of it. He said once before I ought to 
do something toward Mother’s keep, and I did 
buy her some medicine, and she said, ‘ Cap, you 
hold on to your own money. He’s puttin’ by 
every few months.’ I’m proper glad Aunt Chatty 
came — it eases up poor Phene. And she makes 
the boys stand round. They wouldn’t mind 
Phene. Well, I must go and take my things off. 
That new baby’s sweet as a pink — hardly ever 
cries.” 

In a few minutes Cap came down in her every- 
day frock and gingham apron. 

“ You’ve gone and swept up-stairs, and you 
just needn’t,” she declared. “ Sheba keeps her 
house like a pin, and three children to look after. 
But Mother was a fine housekeeper in her day. 
And we had to fly round, I tell you I If she 
hadn’t been such a scold, it wouldn’t have been 
bad livin’ with her. And Sheba doesn’t scold 
at all, but the children are good. She means to 
have six. And you don’t find eight too many.” 

“ Since there’s enough for them to eat it is all 
right,” Mrs. Mann laughed indulgently. 

“ And think of Chan earning such a lot of 
money just singing I ” 

Soon Rhoda led the children in, and demanded 


GROWING UP 


47 

with a stare — ‘‘Why didn^t you come home 
yesterday ? 

But the two others almost toppled Cap over in 
their welcome. 

“ Well, I couldn^t. The golden wedding wasn^t 
until in the afternoon.” 

“ What makes it golden ? ” asked Tip. 

“When they’ve been married fifty years,” 
answered their mother 

“ Do they bring a lot of gold ? ” 

“ Well, these people had fifty dollars in gold 
and some other presents,” Cap replied. 

“ Come to luncheon,” put in their mother. 

“Did Joe Alston bring you home?” pursued 
Tip. 

“ Well, you wouldn’t have looked for me to 
have walked, would you?” 

“You couldn’t walk as far as that. Don’t 
horses get tired ? ” 

“ I guess they do,” answered Cap. 

“Well, do they cry? Prim said camels did. 
She read it in a book.” 

“ Eat your lunch. Tip, and run to school,” re- 
proved the mother. 

Cap undertook the second-floor rooms. There 
would be enough to do on Saturday. 

On their return, the older children were de- 


48 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

lighted to welcome Cap, and wanted to hear 
about the new baby, who was called Chandler, 
with the hope that he might be a singer. 

Then after dinner the Brenners came over, 
whereupon all the news was rehearsed. They 
had taken Abingdon Hall, the proprietor deduct- 
ing ten dollars as a contribution toward the 
church fund. The Signor had helped them to 
arrange the program. They had been advised 
to have the concert upon Thanksgiving eve, and 
the tickets had been made up : ‘‘A Benefit 
Concert for the New Church at Grafton with the 
Following Talent.” To be sure, Chan had the 
complimentary place. 


CHAPTER IV 


CHAN’S CONCERT 

Mr. Evans was surprised. He had heard 
that something was on the tapis. But that it 
should be so splendid, with Chan as chief per- 
former, touched him with gratitude. And that 
Mrs. Brenner should be the chief patroness I 

“ Of course, we couldn’t have done it without 
Chan,” she declared with her bright laugh. “ I’ve 
wanted to be at the head of something, and now 
is my opportunity. I like it better than a fair or 
a supper. You see, it has more dignity. And 
some people felt so left out when he sang for 
Mr. Rainsford.” 

“ I don’t know how to thank you all,” the 
rector replied with much emotion. ** It is a 
wonderful dream come true. From the first I 
have wanted a beautiful and dignified church 
there. It is just the place for it. I can’t be 
thankful enough to those Consadine brothers. 
They had the real improvement of Grafton at 
heart.” 


49 


50 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ And more good sense and good taste than 
one would have credited them with,” added Mrs. 
Brenner. “They were peculiar old men. I 
often wondered what they would do with their 
property. Grafton was at the bottom of their 
hearts. They cared nothing for the world out- 
side. By the way, I am afraid Goldie Firth 
won't have courage enough to face an audience. 
She's not bashful, either.” 

“ We’ll have to put up a screen.” 

“ Oh, Mr. Evans, that is a capital idea. Why, 
the children will seem like two real birds I ” 

“ Chan is a curious chap. He loves to please 
people, and he isn’t longing for praise either. 
He gives so generously of what he has, and it is 
a wonderful gift. Oh, I think we will have a 
really splendid concert.” 

The Signor as well was much interested. He 
added here and there to Chan’s fantasia, which 
he thought quite remarkable for its beautiful 
melodies. 

“ My boy,” he said, “you are going to make a 
composer some day. You’ll pass Mr. Gwynne.” 

“No, I don’t want to do that.” 

“ But the melody is in you, and will come out. 
Why do you laugh ? ” 

“ I was thinking of Miss Raynor when she first 


GROWING UP 


51 

began to teach me. She didn’t like me to break 
out, but somehow I thought my notes the 
prettiest, and sometimes ran them in and she 
never noticed. I did so much of it at home.” 

‘‘ Yes, I caught you at it at times, and I’ll say 
now you really did improve some of the bars. 
I’ve wondered at times how composers could 
lapse into dull passages when they had been 
going on so well.” 

The Signor also thought the idea of the screen 
excellent. 

“You see, Goldie zs a little afraid of being 
looked at. It makes me feel that I want to do 
my very best. Sometimes she thinks it is be- 
cause her hair is red,” Chan explained. 

“ But it is a beautiful red,” said the Signor 
enthusiastically ; “ and the curls are lovely.” 

“ Mother thinks it makes her look boyish.” 

“ Not with that girlish face.” 

So one day they tried Marigold back of a 
screen, at the Signor’s, and the child really 
surpassed herself. 

“ Oh, I wouldn’t mind doing it that way I ” she 
exclaimed. “I’d feel as if I was out in the 
woods, and could really see the birds. And no 
one would look cross at me, or as if a girl ought 
not whistle like a farm boy Yes, I’ll do it that 


52 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

way, and I’ll do my very best just as if Mr. 
Gwynne was there. Oh, you don’t know how 
fond we children are of him ! ” 

Her eyes were so pretty and her cheeks in 
such a glow that the Signor thought it a pity the 
audience could not see her. 

Then they went at the program ; the two 
young violinists would have to be paid. Miss 
Griswold insisted on giving her services ; Miss 
Balcolm thought she would do such a very little, 
that listening to the others would be ample 
remuneration. They met and rehearsed at the 
Signor’s. Mr. Cressy would be the conductor. 

The tickets sold so readily that there was assur- 
ance of success. 

And on the evening of the event the house 
certainly promised that. Miss Griswold and 
Miss Balcolm came up in the afternoon, and were 
taken to the hall early. The children and Cap 
went together, and the house filled up rapidly. 
Primrose sat with her mother and father. 

The first number was Master Firth’s ‘‘ Fan- 
tasia.” And he acquitted himself finely. Then 
came a beautiful song by Miss Griswold. After 
that the ** Lullaby ” by Chan. That was most en- 
thusiastically applauded. It was followed by the 
two violin selections which were well rendered. 


GROWING UP 


53 

and then Tennyson's beautiful “ Bugle Song.” 
When Chan came to the verse : 

O hark, O hear ! how thin and clear, 

And thinner, clearer, farther, going ! ” 

it seemed as if the audience was held breathless. 
And when Chan ended, the applause was 
rapturous and so prolonged that he came out 
and repeated the last verse. 

Miss Balcolm played a piano solo, and that 
ended the first part. 

What a buzz of talk there was in the intermis- 
sion, and smiles and much nodding of heads I 
Then the audience settled for the second part, 
which began with the birds. Safely behind her 
screen. Marigold's voice started up a far-off call 
that was daintily sweet, and it was answered by a 
strong joyous reply — question and answer — then 
a wild burst of melody. Here the piano assisted 
a little, but there were gay ripples and calls, 
thrills of harmony, and then one far-off voice 
going higher and higher. The soft-toned wood 
robin was there, the saucy bobolink with his 
spank-spank-spink and his merry chimes. When 
Chan surveyed the faces of his audience, he was 
reluctant to leave off. 

The applause was rapturous again. Chan 


54 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

bowed to the right and to the left until a song 
was announced, when there was a hush to hear 
again Chants wonderful voice. Then followed a 
duet by the two ladies, the violin, succeeded by 
the German “ Lullaby,” a delightful song by 
Miss Griswold, a stirring Russian march by 
Signor Vincenzio. Still the audience was not 
satisfied. 

Do you think I might sing ‘ Bonny Doon ' ? ” 
whispered Chan to the Signor. 

“ That must be the very last,” was the reply. 

And so Chan came out, bowed, and stood still 
until the audience was all attention. 

The sweet voice began : 

Ye banks and braes of Bonny Doon, 

How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair? 

The attention was a compliment. The won- 
derful pathos of the voice touched every listener. 
For an instant when he had finished there was a 
wonderful hush. Then the applause was so con- 
tinuous that bowing to the audience did not 
suffice. Chan stood still a moment. The audi- 
ence subsided. He repeated the last verse, and 
made his final bow. 

The performers went out the rear way. The 
two ladies from New York were to spend the 


GROWING UP 


55 

night with the Manns. Dan was on hand, and 
Mrs. Brenner had sent her carriage, so they were 
soon convoyed home. 

“ It was really fine,^’ declared Miss Griswold. 
“ I wish Mr. Gwynne had been there. Of course, 
we did not exploit it as a grand affair with opera 
singers, but I think the audience were really de- 
lighted, satisfied. And those old songs do go to 
one’s heart.” 

Chan’s arms were around his mother’s neck. 

“ Oh, do you remember when my hip was 
hurt, you used to hold me when the pain was 
bad, and sing that. It was so sweet always. 
And I sang it to you to-night in tender remem- 
brance. Oh, Mother, the little old Red House 
will always be dear to us.” 

They kissed amid tears. 

Cap had made both tea and coffee, but they 
could hardly eat or drink for talking. Amaryllis 
put the younger children to bed, but it was past 
midnight when the household was all settled. 
As for Chan, the ‘‘Fantasia” kept floating 
through his brain. Oh, was there anything in 
the wide world like music I 

The two ladies went down in the morning 
train, after an affectionate farewell and their as- 
surances that they had enjoyed every moment. 


56 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

The children hated to go to school ; they wanted 
to stay at home and talk it over. 

“ Well/’ said Cap, “ it’s worth having a family 
of children, when some can turn out like that. 
And Joe Alston was there with a high-flyer. 
But he asked me if he might take her. I wasn’t 
going to play jealous, for he could have asked 
her long ago if he’d wanted her. I guess she’d 
been willin’. But he thinks more of his mother ; 
I must say I like that of him. I knew we’d be 
busy. It was fine, wasn’t it ? And just think of 
them children 1 ” 

Cap forgot now and then. But Joe wasn’t a 
finished grammarian. 

And then came Thanksgiving. 

Cap had roasted her turkey beforehand, as she 
was to go over to Walworth. There had been a 
great discussion as to whom they should invite ; 
finally, Mr. Evans had invited himself in order to 
talk over church matters. The younger children 
had been asked out. Chan begged his mother 
not to have dinner until nearly three, as he had 
to sing a thanksgiving hymn. They would be 
sure to hear the result of the concert. 

It was after three, and the family had only 
reached dessert when two of the church wardens 
called. 


GROWING UP 


57 

“We wanted to congratulate Mr. Evans/^ an- 
nounced Mr. Provost. “We have more than the 
ten thousand dollars. The concert was a great 
success, and some folks who didn’t come are ask- 
ing if it can’t be repeated. But later on we shall 
need money. Ten thousand dollars isn’t going 
to build the kind of church we want. But you 
may get your plans ready, Mr. Evans.’' 

Mr. Willard, who was among the newcomers 
to Grafton, and who had built a rather imposing 
house, added, “ I’ve been thinking of a stone 
church. It costs more in the beginning, but you 
don’t have to paint every few years. Wife and 
I have talked it over. We can stay in the little 
chapel some time yet, while we are raising more 
money. And next summer there will be quite 
an influx of new people — Ridgewood is getting 
too crowded with business.” 

“ Oh, a stone church I ” sighed Chan happily. 
“ Why, I certainly would give another concert.” 

“ Friends,” began Mr. Evans with feeling, 
“ that would be the joy of my heart. I had not 
the courage to propose it. But in the end I 
think we would be much better satisfied, and it 
would add dignity to the place as well as to the 
cause. Thank you for the suggestion.” 

“I want to hear all the pro’s and con’s,” said 


58 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

Amaryllis, “ but I have promised to take an 
invalid out driving and as it is such a lovely 
afternoon I feel I ought not to let the pleasure 
of a talk prevent.” 

“We shall have many more talks before the 
question is settled. So we will excuse you,” 
was Mr. Evans’s reply. 

The afternoon was quite like summer. Dan 
had brought around the surrey with Bonnie, 
and the girl bade the callers a pleasant adieu. 

The gentlemen retired to the library, and dis- 
cussed the several sides of the question. Mother 
and the two girls soon put the dining-room in 
order. 

“ When do you suppose Cap will be married ? ” 
asked Primrose. “ It will seem so queer to do 
without her.” 

“ I think Joe is in somewhat of a hurry. You 
see, it is a long journey over here, and a cold 
one going home on a winter’s night,” replied 
Mrs. Mann. “ But Joe is very much in earnest, 
I am sure ; and he has made a wise choice. She 
will be just the kind of wife a farmer needs. 
I am sure she will be good to his mother. Cap 
has a wise, tender heart. I don’t understand 
how those Terry girls could make such nice 
women, for their mother, it seems, nagged at 


GROWING UP 


59 

them a good deal. And all of them have agree- 
able, industrious husbands. But I suppose we 
should be sorry for ourselves.” 

The girls laughed, and then protested against 
Cap^s marrying at all, when she liked her pres- 
ent home so well. 

“ It seems the way of the world,” sighed their 
mother. 

Just as the last dishes were being put away, 
the door-bell rang. There were Mr. and Mrs. 
Bradley. Then Mr. and Mrs. Greer joined them, 
and they had a good talk over the night of the 
concert and the delight of it all. 

The Bradley boys and Linn had gone to the 
football game. 

‘‘ And we were really tired of staying alone,” 
said Mrs. Bradley. “ I envy you about half 
the girls.” 

“And ril take the other half,” added Mrs. 
Greer. “ Confess now you are rather tired of so 
many. But where is Amaryllis ? ” 

“ Gone about some missionary work,” laughed 
Prim. “ Taking Miss Golding out driving. 
Seems to me she’s always thinking of the 
‘ lame and the halt,’ we don’t know any ‘ blind.’ ” 

“ Amaryllis is a sweet girl,” said Mrs. Greer. 
“ She keeps busy all the time.” 


6o RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


Mr. Evans gave a soft little smile, not all of 
which was devoted to the church. 

The two gentlemen, having settled upon a 
stone church, by their very strong preferences, 
rose to go. Then the Greers made their adieus. 
The Bradleys were prevailed upon to stay to 
supper. 

“ But what will the boys do ? ” Mr. Bradley 
inquired. 

“ Come over here,” said Mrs. Mann. 

“ Then you must make them wash the dishes. 
They grew quite expert at Rye Beach.” 

After that the talk went back to Cap and the 
prospect of losing her. 

“I wonder Joe Alston had such good sense,” 
said Mrs. Bradley. That Cummings girl has 
her cap quite set for him and he took her to the 
concert.” 

“ After asking Cap if he might,” laughed 
Mrs. Mann. 

Oh, did he ? I was afraid at first that he was 
only playing on Cap. But Mrs. Downs has a 
well-to-do husband. Queer how some girls get 
a real bargain in the matrimonial line while the 
others are trying and can’t seem to succeed,” 
observed Mrs. Bradley. 

“ Like the Denby girls,” laughed Mrs. Mann ; 


GROWING UP 6 1 

“ but Letty Beers has a pleasant husband, and 
the sweetest little girl baby. Denby doesn’t 
improve a bit. But I think the creamery will 
buy it all up presently just for grazing. And 
they have begun the canning factory.” 

“Yes,” said Prim. “The younger girls are 
talking of going into that. But I think I’d 
rather stay at home and sew.” 

Amaryllis had a pleasant drive and a very 
entertaining time. Meanwhile she was wonder- 
ing of what use, after all, this education and 
this travel were to be to her companion. Miss 
Golding could teach a private class at home, 
to be sure, and live over the delights of that, 
but there was not much for her to enjoy in the 
fresh busy world. She did not make friends 
easily and she much regretted the loss of for- 
tune. 

“ For, after all, you cannot do anything with- 
out money,” she complained one day to Ama- 
ryllis. 

That was true in a certain way, Rilla thought, 
but she should put health instead. She had 
found some very happy people who were poor, 
and were really doing good. Once the girl 
suggested that Miss Golding have a class of 
girls. 


62 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


“ I should want them all like you,” protested 
her friend ; “ and I don’t believe you understand 
how appreciative you are. Many girls just care 
for a little smattering, and that they can get from 
a guide book. They never go down to the heart 
of things. I always wanted to be thorough.” 

“ It is pleasant to think over the things one 
has seen, and the people, too,” returned Ama- 
ryllis. 

“ And you’ll come soon again. I do enjoy 
the drives with you very much. And it has been 
such a lovely afternoon. I don’t suppose we 
shall have many such. But then we can stay in 
and read. Good-by, and thank you for the 
treat.” 

Amaryllis turned Bonnie homeward. What 
did Miss Golding do with the long days? She 
was not especially fond of needlework. And 
there were the evenings. Oh, Amaryllis herself 
was glad there were so many of them. 

A houseful she found at home, for both of the 
Bradley boys and Linn were there, besides the 
elders. They were all enthusiastic about the 
Crickets and the Red Circle from the Emerson 
school who had played a fine game, — but the 
Reds had beaten of course ; they had practised 
longer. However, the Crickets played better than 


GROWING UP 63 

ever before. Mr. Evans’s call had to be talked 
over also, and the proposal of the stone church. 

“ That would be fine,” declared Linn. I 
wish I had a thousand dollars to give toward it.” 

“We have begun on our third thousand. 
Chan will have to give another concert,” stated 
Mrs. Bradley emphatically. 

“I’d do it willingly for a pretty stone church.” 

Prim and Goldie had gone out in the dining- 
room at a nod from their mother. Rilla ran up- 
stairs to take off her hat and wrap, and lingered 
long enough to break open her letters and to 
note that one was dated at Rome, the other at 
Port Said. She could not stop to read them, but 
hurried down to help the girls. Mrs. Mann had 
suggested that they slice up some of the delicious 
ham and have a dish of Cap’s nice pot cheese. 

“ I doubt if any one is very hungry,” she said. 

But the boys were keen for supper, although 
they were not half through practising for the 
football game. 

“ Well, we did first rate,” asserted Stuart. 
“ We gave them some pretty hard work. Once 
I thought we would win — at least I hoped so.” 

“ That would have been quite wonderful. 
The ‘ Reds ’ are splendid players,” Linn ob- 
served. 


64 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

Amaryllis, however, was more interested in 
church matters. 

“ Why, you must have had quite a reception,” 
she said. 

“ I liked Mr. Willard very much,” Mrs. Mann 
remarked. “ He doesn’t think you can build 
upon nothing, and he looks toward the future. 
We ought to make them very welcome, for I 
think they will be good workers. And they 
have four children, three for the Sunday- 
school.” 

“And the Fordhams are not going to send 
their girls back to boarding-school. It seems 
there was some dissatisfaction this year. There 
are so many growing girls here in Grafton now. 
And the Morton School does stand pretty high. 
I think our children have done very well. I did 
object at first to the trolley-ride, but there seems 
no great crowd at those hours and they often 
walk home. I think the Primary was very much 
needed,” Mr. Mann observed. 

“ And children are growing all the time,” 
commented Mrs. Bradley. 

The younger folks settled down to play words, 
and the boys found some queer ones to which 
Prim made some objections. When finally Mrs. 
Bradley said it was time to go home, she re- 


GROWING UP 65 

marked reproachfully, We come over here twice 
as often as you call on us.’^ 

“ There are so many of us. It makes a real 
party,” declared Primrose. 

“ And you are such a jolly party.” 

They seemed to linger a long while over their 
good-bys. Stuart insisted the next meeting must 
be at their house. Altogether it had been a 
fine Thanksgiving. 


CHAPTER V 


AN ENGAGEMENT 

Presently Amaryllis found time to read her 
letters. Elizabeth was very happy. There had 
been London and the two boys to get acquainted 
with. Her boys were good-hearted English 
lads, and cordial to their new mother. There 
had been many places to visit and curiosities to 
see. It was quite different from America. But 
then it was much older and had many his- 
toric relics. She did not wonder that travelers 
liked to go again and again. And Paris was 
simply wonderful I Mr. Rainsford was the most 
delightful guide — the most charming man. 
Sometimes Elizabeth felt she ought not to be so 
happy, leaving all her dear friends behind. She 
wanted to see dear Rilla, and talk face to face. 
And that lovely little Laurel and all the others 
between. Then they went to see Gibraltar, 
which was massive, then the Mediterranean and 
the towns along the shore. Oh, how beautiful 
and wonderful the world was ! She used to long 
so when she was a girl to travel but she did not 
66 


GROWING UP 67 

suppose much of it would come in her way. 
And there were all the lovely isles of Greece 
and the African coast, with their wonderful 
stories. And now they had reached Port Said, 
and would go through the Canal that had set 
apart Africa. Mrs. Rainsford mentioned the 
pages and pages from her brother, concerning 
his hopes for the new church, his joy at having 
his people so united, and the good work that 
large-hearted Mr. Mann was doing. Here Rilla 
bent over and kissed that sentence. 

Elizabeth had not had previously any such 
opportunities as Miss Golding, nor could Eliza- 
beth be called a highly-educated woman ; yet 
what a charm there was in her language 1 Wa^ 
it because everything was so fresh and new to 
her? 

That night Amaryllis went to sleep with those 
splendid views in her mind, and only thought of 
morning when she heard Mother’s gentle voice 
call her. 

“It will take both of us to be Cap,” her 
mother said cheerily. “ You are my right hand 
in housekeeping matters. Father has to go 
down to the city to-day.” 

Dan had been in, and started up the fires. 
There was not much that required cooking ex- 


68 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


cepting the cereal and some potato cakes to fry. 
Linn came down to ask if he could do anything. 
He guessed he’d go down to the city with Father 
as he hoped to be useful there since he was able 
to type pretty well. 

Then came Goldie and Prim. 

“Oh, Mother,” cried Goldie, “ why didn’t you 
call us ? ” 

“ Rilla and I could do all that was needed. 
But you were very good to come for you are not 
used to early rising. Dan had the kettle boil- 
ing.” 

“ Dan would make a good maid on a pinch,” 
said Primrose, laughing. 

They had a merry breakfast with Father, who 
had to be in the city all the morning. Then the 
girls looked after the younger children, while 
Amaryllis attended to the chambers and the 
sweeping. 

“We shall have to dine on turkey bones for 
to-day, and that will finish the noble bird. He 
was splendid, wasn’t he, Mother ? I didn’t think 
I could find so much that was nice last night 
We had a gay old time. I do like the Bradley 
boys,” declared Tip gleefully. 

“ And you haven’t the grace to blush over it,” 
declared Goldie. 


GROWING UP 69 

I don’t see why I should. They are like 
Linn to me, and I do like their mother.” 

” Suppose we make the turkey bones into a pie, 
with a few oysters to flavor it,” said their mother. 
“ The oyster man will be along presently. And 
we can have it for dinner to-night.” 

“ Why, Mother,” said Prim, “ it doesn’t cost 
such a sight to live after all.” 

The turkey was big and we stretched him 
out. But then what shall we have for lunch ? ” 
Mrs. Mann observed. 

“ Pancakes,” cried Tip. “We haven’t had any 
in a good while.” 

“ Why, we had some last Tuesday.” 

“ When I keep house,” began Primrose, “ I’m 
going to make a book of meals so that I shall 
not be taken unawares.” 

“ And you must drop out one day here and 
there so that your family shall not get in a rut 
and tire of the sameness,” Tip warned her. 

“ A good idea,” laughed their mother. 

“I can’t decide whether I shall like house- 
keeping for steady company or not,” declared 
Primrose with a thoughtful crease in her fore- 
head. 

“ I am sure I shall,” said Amaryllis. 

When they had cleared up and the girls had 


70 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

changed their dresses they found Dan was going 
over to Ridgewood to do some marketing, and the 
younger ones coaxed to go. 

Soon after Mr. Alston drove up with Cap, and 
they all rushed to the play-room door. 

“ Well, we’re glad to get you back,” was Prim’s 
welcome, and there was a joyful greeting all 
around. 

“ I’ll drive down to the barn,” announced Joe. 
** Then I’m coming in to talk.” 

“ Were you awfully disappointed ? ” asked Cap. 

But really I couldn’t get away ; it was a fight 
to-day. Joe’s awfully set when he wants his way. 
He’s nice, too. Oh, Mrs. Mann, I’m going to 
get a good husband ! Why, he treats his 
mother as if she was his sweetheart.” 

'‘I hope you won’t be jealous. Cap?” said 
Mrs. Mann teasingly. 

“ I’ve got better sense. I’ve always liked the 
way Mr. Mann treats you. I just wish Mother 
could have had some of that tenderness all her 
life ; though I think Father’s a little ashamed to 
be so rough before Aunt Chatty. And her 
rheumatism isn’t so bad. So I shall always 
like Joe to be tender to his mother. She’s very 
sweet and she almost cried when I came away. 
Joe’ll tell you all.” 


GROWING UP 


71 

Joe came in at that moment. Cap had taken 
off her hat and coat. 

“ Well, are you going back to-night, Mistress 
Cap ? with a note of laughter in his voice. 
“ Mrs. Mann, you oughtn’t have made it so 
pleasant for her.” 

“ I think Cap. has made it pleasant for all of 
us, as well,” returned Mrs. Mann. “ And we’re 
all glad she is going to do so well.” 

“ We’ve nearly split about the wedding. Cap’s 
got a big will of her own,” and he laughed. 

You see we live so far apart that we’re going to 
miss most of the fun of courting. Coming over 
isn’t so bad, but going back finishes me ; that’s 
no fun long toward midnight I And so I said 
we couldn’t wait until next summer to be 
married. The house is all ready, and the old 
folks want her.” 

“ When did you think ? ” interrupted Mrs. 

Mann. 

“ He’s set the day and all,” chuckled Cap. 
“ I thought the lady always did that ! And I 
didn’t quite like it, and told him so plain out. I 
didn’t think it quite the thing to go off and leave 
you in the lurch. I hadn’t counted on going be- 
fore spring. It’s awful to be left alone in the 
winter.” 


72 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ But it wouldn’t be awful for me to freeze to 
death some night,” her swain retorted, “ and for 
Sam to take my cold body home to the old folks. 
Oh, Cap, you can’t be so hard-hearted ! ” 

There was a twinkle in his eye, and Prim re- 
turned it with suppressed laughter. 

“ So we decided to leave it to you, Mrs. Mann,” 
continued Joe. “ I’m twenty-eight, and have no 
special bad habits. I do smoke some. I’ve 
flirted with girls (or they with me) until I’ve 
found just what I wanted. And now, there’s this 
hitch. I’ve set Valentine’s day. Don’t you sup- 
pose the birds know a thing or two ? And I 
guess some girl will come along by that time. 
There’s been three at our house, but Mother 
hasn’t any hankering for a servant. And she’s 
taken an awful fancy to Cap, just like her son. 
I can give her a nice home, and I’ll be good to 
her, for if I wasn’t. I’m afraid she’d comeback to 
you. Now, Mrs. Mann, do you think I’m un- 
reasonable ? ” 

“ I can’t see that you are, and Cap might go a 
long way before she’d find a better man. And 
you’ll get a good-tempered, industrious wife, 
who will always be pleasant with your old peo- 
ple. And she’s a splendid cook, and not waste- 
ful. I’m sorry to give her up, but it would be 



•‘He’s set the day and all.”— Pagre 71. 






GROWING UP 


73 

selfish to stand in her way. I shouldn't expect 
to get any one quite so good, but I would try to 
train her on the same lines,” was Mrs. Mann’s 
earnest reply. 

At this juncture there was an interruption by 
the return of Linn and his father, who wanted to 
know the cause of the solemn conclave ; so the 
matter had to be gone over again, — this time 
in quite an amusing fashion. 

“ Of course, I should take her off and marry 
her out of hand,” advised Mr. Mann with en- 
thusiasm. “ I married that way and am glad of 
it. And if you love each other, that is all that is 
necessary, though I don’t believe in improvident 
marriages, yet saving money isn’t the great 
thing in life. You want a little joy as you go 
along, and both must help make it.” 

“ There, Cappadocia, everybody is on my 
side ! And we’ll be just as happy as any of 
your sisters. So it will be along in February, and 
you shall plan all the rest of it. And now that is 
settled,” concluded Joe triumphantly. 

Bessy had meanwhile put her pie in to bake, and 
insisted the couple should celebrate their engage- 
ment by taking dinner with them, and that they 
should be the guests of state and Prim be the 
maid-in-waiting. The hostess reminded the pair 


74 red house children 

that the moon would be up at nine to light Mr. 
Alston on his lonesome way home. 

They really had a merry time. The pie was 
superb (even though made of remnants), the 
oysters giving it a delicious flavor. Prim 
changed the plates deftly, and was, in other 
ways, a handy and skilful maid ; and the lovers 
spiced the meal with some amusing stories. 
There were mince pie and some fruit for des- 
sert, and Joe declared he had enjoyed himself 
to the top-notch. Then the lovers were left 
alone while the mother and the girls cleared 
the table, and Prim said aside that Cap must 
have had a change of heart, she was so meek and 
ladylike. 

Linn meanwhile went over to the Bradleys\ 
The boys had grown very chummy. Finally, 
at nine, Joe said he must start on his long, 
lonely side. There were the best of wishes 
given, only Cap whimsically holding hers in 
abeyance. 

“ Well, that’s really funny ! ” cried Primrose. 
“ Cap, you are not angry with your lover ? I 
think him ever so nice. Why, you’ll be the 
envy of ever so many girls I ” 

‘‘ Well, I ain’t used to being out-generaled. 
If it hadn’t been for his mother, — and she’s a 


GROWING UP 


75 

sweet little body (I do believe I could carry 
her around in my arms), — and there were actual 
tears in her eyes when she kissed me good- 
by. — ril have a lovely mother-in-law,^^ mused 
Cap. 

“ And you have three pretty patchwork 
quilts,” Goldie reminded her cheerfully. And 
we’ll all help you make things.” 

“I’ve kept my stock up in pretty good order. 
Mother believed in the old saying, ‘A stock’s 
no sore.’ Sometimes when the hens were laying 
first-rate, she’d get a lot of muslin and divide 
it round among us girls and say nothing about 
it. She didn’t scold quite so much until the 
rheumatiz came on ; ’pears like the pain and 
trouble madded her, and she took it out on us 
girls. After Aunt Chatty came, she went over 
to Sheba’s, and things run along so smooth she 
was changed when she came back. But poor 
Phene has to take all the brunt now. And 
when she was here last Christmas she could do 
nothing but talk about you folks, and that Mr. 
Mann said he’d rather have the children re- 
member a happy childhood than to leave them 
money afterward. And I’ve had the time 
of my life here. Oh, Mrs. Mann, you don’t 
know how thankful I am. And I’ve learned 


76 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

to be quite a lady,” said the girl with great 
emotion. 

“ Fm very glad you have learned some things 
and been happy, Cap.” 

“ Joe isn’t coming over to-morrow, so Fll get 
kind of settled. Fm part glad and part sorry.” 

“ When I get engaged I hope to be wholly 
glad,” commented Prim. 

“ Well, you see, men are kind of queer things,” 
said Cap, and went at the work with a good will. 
And suddenly she broke out with : 

“That pie we had for dinner, Mrs. Mann — 
tell me just what you put in it. Seems to me I 
never tasted anything so good I ” 

They all laughed. 

“ It was made of turkey-scraps, and gravy, 
and oysters. I think Mother might write a cook- 
book, as she can make over such wonderful 
things out of almost nothing,” Prim suggested 
with enthusiasm. 

“ You see, I learned in my early days the high 
art of not wasting any good materials,” explained 
Mrs. Mann. “ But you are a good cook. Cap, 
and I think a good deal of the comfort of a home 
depends upon well-prepared food and a variety, 
and not over-rich messes.” 

As Christmas drew near plans were made to 


GROWING UP 


77 

have a Christmas tree in the chapel. Chan 
offered to teach the carols, and selected some 
particularly suitable. 

“ Oh,’^ cried Primrose, “ do you remember the 
Sunday we went over to Denby in the sleigh 
with its fur robe and with the two beautiful 
horses? And I had that plaid frock made out of 
Aunt Hitty’s cloak. Well, I felt fine I Remem- 
ber the good advice and the warnings showered 
upon us I It makes me laugh even now. But it 
will be fine to have a Christmas tree here.” 

“ But Mr. Evans doesn’t want it really grand 
nor expensive. If Chan could only be here I ” 
sighed Linn. 

“ Their Christmas in the city will be beautiful. 
But he thinks he would rather be here. Chan is 
the star of this family. And he is so sweet — not 
puffed up with pride and vanity,” mused Prim. 

The Christmas committee went to work with a 
good will, and the schoolgirls proposed another 
plan : that after the Christmas tree they should 
have a sale of fancy things, to see if the girls 
couldn’t make some money. Raffia work, which 
was just becoming popular, was taught at school. 
Mamie Read was especially ingenious, inventing 
little baskets, trays, and hair-receivers. 

They are new now, and new things take. 


78 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

We must not put the prices up too high. Til see 
what they are asking at Ridgewood. Don’t get 
things too much alike. We might have some 
pretty cakes and home-made candies. We won’t 
have a very large stock. And, Rilla, if you would 
make some of those pretty white aprons ! We 
might make about thirty dollars ; we won’t be too 
ambitious. Then that will be our Christmas con- 
tribution to the church fund.” These were Prim’s 
hasty but enthusiastic instructions to a group of 
workers. 

Rilla did beautiful sewing on the machine, and 
delighted in it. Prim was fascinated with raffia, 
and was expert with it. Two of the schoolgirls 
made delicious candies. So they were appor- 
tioned and went at their work most cheerfully. 
Mr. Evans would have the vestry room trimmed 
with greens, and arrange a table in the middle, 
with some chairs around that would give it a 
sociable look. 

Chan was sorry not to stay to the home 
Christmas. The singing was very good for a 
country chapel. Then in the afternoon the tree 
celebration was really thronged. The carols 
were beautiful and the children were elated over 
their gifts. Mr. Evans announced that there 
would be a sale of fancy work on Saturday by 


GROWING UP 


79 

the young ladies of the congregation which he 
hoped would be well attended, as it would be 
their contribution to the new church. 

Well attended it certainly was I In less than 
an hour on Saturday afternoon all the attractive 
articles were disposed of, and orders taken for 
some more raffia work. In addition Amaryllis 
had two more orders for aprons. 

‘‘So we shall have thirty-eight dollars 1 What 
a pity it couldn’t be an even forty; but Mr. 
Curtis handed over two dollars for the good 
time he had had, seeing so many pretty girls,” 
said one girl gleefully. 

It was during the holidays that Cap declared 
she had gone to Walworth for the last time. 
She wasn’t going “ to run after any man.” 

But Dan begged that his mother might go 
over to Cap’s sister’s and stay a few days. Sheba 
was very glad to have her. 

During the vacation, Rilla finished the aprons 
requested, and Prim completed her raffia work, 
and they all participated in some very enjoyable 
gayeties. Cap did not return until Wednesday, 
when Joe remained to dinner again. He was in 
a very jolly frame of mind and excitedly com- 
manded Cap to hold up her finger. 

“ He was just foolish enough to want to buy a 


8o RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


diamond/^ explained Cap blushing, “ but I said 
I’d lock it up in a bureau drawer if he did that, 
and when I’d been married twenty years and 
been a good wife all that time he might give me 
one. And there was a houseful of company at 
Sheba’s and a queer old second cousin called her 
Bathsheba and me Cappadocia. It sounded 
funny enough. I’m not going to give my chil- 
dren any such names, Bible or no I ” 

Here all the girls had to try on Cap’s ring 
and make a wish. But they had to keep the 
wish a secret, or the charm would be broken. 

“ Why, that would spoil some of the fun, if it 
wasn’t a good wish, or if you tired of it,” scoffed 
Tip. 

“ But you must not change,” Cap warned 
them. 

“I don’t believe much in such wishes,” de- 
clared Tip sceptically. 

“Well, it’s only for fun,” the girls chorused. 

Cap enjoyed telling . the family that Mrs. 
Nelson had congratulated her and said she 
thought one of the Andrews girls would be much 
disappointed upon hearing of the engagement, 
as this designing young woman, so the informant 
said, had been nodding and smiling knowingly 
when any one mentioned Joe’s intentions ; and 


GROWING UP 


8i 


when Joe took Miss Andrews to the concert, 
people thought it a “sure thing.” However, 
Cap said she explained that Joe had asked if he 
might take the young lady, as she herself was 
going to look after the children and, anyway, 
didn't want to go with him to “ make talk,” and 
thought folks would stare at her. 

“ Oh, he’s mightily in earnest,” was Cap’s gay 
assurance to the solicitous Mrs. Nelson. 

“And he couldn’t get a better wife for a 
farmer,” was the neighbor’s sincere comment. 

This Christmas season there had been no 
special grand time for the Red House Children^ 
as they had expended their energies on church 
matters. Mr. Gwynne sent Christmas wishes and 
wrote that he would be in the city shortly, and 
was anxious to see them all. Mr. Collamore 
sent remembrances from abroad. And, dearest 
of all tokens, was a letter from Mrs. Rainsford, 
who was now in sight of her new home. 

How soon school-days were upon them again ! 
But with them came Chan’s return from the city ! 
He had done his full duty by his first church, 
and was so wild to get home that he could not 
wait for his father’s company. His sweet face 
was aglow with joy as he burst in upon his 
mother. 


82 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


Oh, Mother ” was all he could say, as he 

kissed her. 

“Where is your father?” asked the mother in 
alarm, as she embraced her boy. 

“ I didn’t go there. I’ve had the loveliest 
time and made an almost-new friend, who is 
charming. But let’s go up to your room.” 
And there Chan reassured his mother, and ex- 
plained that in his happiness he had rushed 
directly to her. 

The boy held something before her eyes. 
Gradually she comprehended it was a check, and 
for fifty dollars ! 

“ It isn’t your salary. You had that last 
week. I don’t understand,” murmured the 
mother wonderingly. 

“ Remember the gentleman on shipboard, last 
year, who raised the hundred dollars, and gave 
it to Mr. G Wynne for me ? ” 

“ Oh, yes,” and the mother’s intense interest 
shone in her eyes, for this incident she treasured 
as one of the most interesting happenings of 
Chan’s trip abroad to study music with his good 
benefactor, Mr. Gwynne. 

“The gentleman’s a lace-importer, and has 
been abroad a good deal the last year,” contin- 
ued Chan ; “ but he came home late in the fall. 


GROWING UP 83 

and then came to the church to hear me sing. 
He is Jewish, and a very interesting person. 
He wanted me to go to a restaurant with him. 
He had already spoken to me several times, after 
waiting around until I came out of church after 
the ‘ Gloria.^ He begged me to call on him at 
the store, but I thought of what you said about 
taking up with strangers, and I told him of the 
ladies with whom I stayed on Sunday, and how 
worried they would be if I did not come. But 
he seemed so friendly and interested that I asked 
him to call about three and meet Miss Griswold 
who had taken me in charge. This he said he 
should be very happy to do. He had read an ac- 
count of the concert at Ridgewood, and asked 
about Mr. Gwynne. He thought I belonged to 
him in some way. So I told him about being 
sent to the hospital by a lovely man, and the 
nice time I had there; of singing to little Arthur, 
and that Mr. Gwynne heard me ; and how Ar- 
thur made a will, and his father sent me some 
books that had been Arthur^s, with a lovely letter 
so tender and touching that Mother and I cried. 

“ The gentleman didn’t know I must stay for 
the communion service that day, but he waited 
in church and afterward caught my hand and 
said how glad he was to see me, and again 


84 red house children 

begged me to go to his restaurant with him and 
have a talk. I asked him again to call after 
luncheon, and he came, sure enough. He is 
thoroughly a gentleman. And we talked and 
talked. I told him about Father and how good 
he had been to us ; and how Mr. Gwynne 
took me up and that I had been singing ever 
since — and about the wonderful tour to Ger- 
many, and the concert for the Countess of 
Schoenwerth and Mende. Curiously enough, 
he had seen in the paper about our concert, and 
I told him we were building a pretty, new, stone 
church and the • concert was for that. Then he 
took out his check-book and wrote this. I 
didn’t want to take it at first, but he insisted. 
I hadn’t been begging. Mother dear; I truly 
had not. Finally, he wanted to know about 
the other children, and if he couldn’t come up 
and see us all. As he wanted to hear about 
the church, I told him about the Consadine 
brothers, and that they had really started the 
fund to replace the little chapel. He was also 
interested to know what I had sung at the con- 
cert, and how much we had made, and thought 
our success quite wonderful. Miss Griswold and 
her mother liked him very much. But I wish he 
did not think me so wonderful. There are other 


GROWING UP 


85 

boys with good voices, although sometimes they 
get coarse and rough playing in the street. 
The Signor wouldn’t let me play ball because 
there was so much screaming and shouting. 
I didn’t want to either. But it has all been 
curious ” 

Here Chan sprang up, for Father was coming 
up the walk, and the next instant they were in 
each other’s arms I 
Chan, dear ” 

“ Had the child escaped some great danger?” 
was Mr. Mann’s first thought upon observing his 
boy’s ecstasy. 

“ Oh, Father, it is such a rather strange lovely 
thing, and a new, old friend come to light. I 
can’t quite believe it true, only there is the check. 
And Mr. Gwynne can tell you all about it. But 
you must hear my story I ” 

The two sat down on the hall seat. Goldie 
came in soon, then Rilla, and shortly afterward 
Mr. Evans. Presently Chan went over the story 
again, more at length, his face flushing and his 
eyes deepening with emotion. So many little 
things came up, reminiscences of his ocean voy- 
age and the concert on shipboard. And Mr. 
Bernstein’s desire to come up and see all the 
children was most singular of all I 


86 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


Mr. Mann listened in a curious, somewhat 
dazed state as if he could hardly take in the sig- 
nificance of it all. He fondled the soft hair, and 
the shining in the boy’s sweet eyes was to the 
gentle man a sort of heavenly illumination. 

Mr. Evans said, in a voice of emotion, “ Chan- 
dler, this is all quite wonderful. And this is a 
fine gift — a very generous one ! When your 
friend comes, I want to see him, and give him 
my most cordial thanks.” 

Chan smiled wistfully toward his mother. 

“ He may come, mayn’t he, Mother? ” 

“ Why, yes ! We shall be glad to have him, 
my son. Though I think you must be the 
stronger attraction.” 

‘‘ My little lad,” said his father softly. 

“ Always,” returned Chandler, giving the 
hand a fond pressure. 

Mr. Evans thought it remarkable that Chan 
was the same simple-hearted lad as when he 
sang the first time in the little chapel. No 
wonder strangers took him to their hearts. 

The caller was prevailed upon to stay to dinner 
that evening. The children were delighted in 
talking over the story again and again. “ What is 
Mr. Bernstein like ? ” and “ Why are Jews Jews ? ” 
which Tip wanted to know, were but a few of 


GROWING UP 87 

the many questions with which they assailed 
Chan that evening. 

The children were receiving Cap’s welcome as 
they came home. Mrs. Mann shook out her 
finished sewing, and proposed going down-stairs. 
Then the larger ones made their appearance 
with the word that on Wednesday school would 
close for ten days. The younger ones, with Amy, 
went out for a good run down in the lot. Chan 
sat at the piano, but was telling the girls about 
his afternoon’s visitor and the check. 

Prim danced about the room. “Now there is 
over a hundred on the new thousand. Chan, 
that was fine ! ” 

“ And it was lovely to be remembered all this 
while,” said Amaryllis. “ But your singing goes 
to every heart.” 

“Then let us have a little sing,” exclaimed 
Goldie. “We must get our voices up in good 
shape for the next concert. Why, we’ll be as 
famous as a family that used to go round giving 
concerts years ago, the Hutchinsons.” 

“You had better get ready for dinner,” said 
their mother. “ Call in the children.” 

There was, upon that, a washing of faces 
and hands, and a brushing of tousled heads, 
but they took their places quietly, although 


88 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


they began about Chan’s check again. ** And 
what was Mr. Bernstein like?” Tip wanted to 
know. 

“ He’s very fine looking — grown quite stout in 
this last year. He has a decided foreign look. 
And he has a pleasant voice, and a really 
sweet, rather musical laugh. And he says some 
amusing things. He is quite wild over music, 
especially operas. And he likes a bit of fun. 
He must be generous. Think how he planned 
that lovely gift on shipboard. I dare say he 
gave the greater part himself.” 

“ That is the good of having plenty of money,” 
declared Prim sententiously. “ Let us all study 
to get rich. Then we can make big donations, 
build churches without begging, make munifi- 
cent gifts and be happy. But we have Father 
and Mother, and there are eight of us to laugh 
and be merry.” 

“ Bravo for you. Primrose,” replied her father. 

“ All the same. I’m glad there are some de- 
lightfully rich people in the world, and some 
delightfully sweet fathers of eight children. And 
when this new admirer of Chan’s comes, we will 
all be on our best behavior.” 

“ You had better go to bed. Prim, before you 
get maudlin,” said Linn with a laugh. 


GROIVING UP 89 

“ And we’ll see what wonderful thing happens 
to-morrow,” added Goldie. 

A little snow came, for one thing, and that 
brought to mind the snow-man they had built 
and the fun they had belaboring him. 

Dan was to take the younger ones to school 
but the others started off, as they were equipped 
for the weather. As all carried their lunches, 
there was a nice long day before the mistress 
and maid. 

‘‘ And think how I’ve been looking at that 
furniture up-stairs with a coveting eye,” began 
Cap contemplatively ; ‘‘ and now I sha’n’t need it. 
Joe’s room has some handsome old mahogany 
that his grandmother gave him. I don’t know 
but I’d rather have something light and kind of 
cheery, but I’ll put a nice white counterpane on 
the bed, and that’ll brighten it.” 

“ No, I wouldn’t change much. Elderly people 
are fond of things that remind them of their 
youth.” 

“Well, they’re good enough — not shabby — and 
I sha’n’t mind if they are not in the first style,” 
sighed Cap. 

“But these old things are valuable as curiosities. 
Some one snapped up old Aunt Hitty’s, and I 
dare say the dealer doubled his price.” 


90 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ I want to talk about something else,” put in 
Cap abruptly, as a warm color flushed her face. 
“ When Joe began his courtin’, I thought it 
would be so long before we’d talk of marriage 
that I had no thought of weddin’ dresses, and 
here it’s coming so close it stirs me all up. Joe 
wants to know where it’ll be. I can’t go home 
because it would make so much work. Not one 
of us girls has been married at home. Two 
went to the parson’s, and two have been married 
in their lover’s houses or their future home.” 

“ Whom would you like to have ? ” 

“I’m going to have Mr. Evans, and if you 
didn’t mind. I’d like to be married in this house 
with the children all round. I told Joe he must 
give the minister ten dollars — that I was worth 
that and more, too. And he laughed and said he 
was glad to get me at any price. And he wants 
an en/airm the evening — that’s what the country 
people call it. His mother doesn’t like to go out 
much in the evening, so there are two cousins 
coming over to get the wedding supper, and 
there’ll be dancing and all sorts of fooling. 
He says it will be the end of his bachelor days, 
and he means to have a good time ; besides his 
mother likes the idea. She says they had just 
such a weddin’. That was thirty-five years ago. 


GROWING UP 


91 

Jeptha, her eldest, is just thirty>four years old, 
and he sent word that he was sorry he couldn’t 
come. The little girl between, the sister, died. 
And Joe bought Jeptha out on the farm, though 
it isn’t quite paid for, but we’ll soon have that 
settled. So I guess that plan is as good as 
any.” 

Why, I think it excellent. Cap. Yes, we’ll 
be glad to have you married here. We have 
always been such good friends, and I’m sorry 
enough to let you go. But it’s right for you to 
go to a good home, and get a sober, industrious 
man. I want you to be very happy.” 

‘‘ I guess I will be. I’m getting used to Joe’s 
ways. But he’s an awful flirt. He told me at 
first I was cut out for an old maid. Then I said 
I should always stay with you, and he said he 
was jealous of the whole lot of you.” 

Mrs. Mann laughed. “ He won’t be so jeal- 
ous when he gets you in his own home.” 

So Cap’s affairs were settled with her mistress’s 
help. She would buy one nice silk gown and 
one of those pretty, rich and durable things in 
blue — Joe liked blue so much — and a hat trimmed 
with blue velvet and a feather. So that was off 
her mind. 

‘‘ But if it was summer, I’d do up a lot of 


92 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

fruit for you. I did hate to see so much go to 
waste.” 

“ Oh, it didn’t really go to waste,” her mistress 
laughed. “ There were plenty of two-legged 
creatures glad to eat it up.” 

“ If most of us haven’t two legs 1 ” was the 
pert remark of Goldie, who tripped in at this 
point. 


CHAPTER VI 


MR. BERNSTEIN 

“ Mother, a week from next Monday Mr. 
Bernstein is coming up with me I ” exclaimed 
Chan. “ I do hope you will all like him. He’s 
made me talk of the children until he must know 
them all by heart.” 

They had a turkey again, which Cap cooked 
to perfection. Mr. Evans was invited. It was a 
cold, blowy day, but the house was delightfully 
cozy. They had some flowers of their own now 
since starting a little conservatory. Because 
one rich rose was considered by the children un- 
usually splendid and gay, as they expressed it, 
it had been christened the “ Collamore ” for the 
wealthy friends Chan had made while in the hos- 
pital. 

“What is a Jew like?” asked Tip for the 
twentieth time. 

“ Tip, if you say that again, you will have to 
go out and dine in the kitchen,” Primrose rep- 
rimanded him. 


93 


94 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

How eagerly they peered down the street for 
the approach of the famous personage I 

He came, enveloped in a luxurious fur over- 
coat that Chan hastened to help him remove be- 
fore introducing him to Father and Mother. A 
fine-looking man, evidently very handsome in 
his youth, who betrayed his nationality and re- 
ligion, but had a soft, modulated voice. And then 
the children were called up in their order. 

“ I had an idea at first on shipboard that 
Chandler must be the only one, Mr. Gwynne was 
so careful of him. Mrs. Mann, allow me to con- 
gratulate you on being the mother of such a 
flock ; and, Mr. Mann, for adopting them. I 
hope you will forgive my curiosity, but Chandler 
aroused it so that I longed to see them. And 
what romances you have all been living ! Why, 
I almost thought the boy must have drawn on 
his imagination. And what a truly kindly deed 
you did, Mr. Mann, sending him to the hospital,” 
the visitor began with great frankness. 

I had been in the habit of seeing so many of 
the poor crippled children in the city, handi- 
capped for life, who could have been mended (as 
Chandler calls it) in the beginning ; and having 
no one of my own, my heart went out to those 
poor disabled ones that might be helped.” 


GROWING UP 


95 

“ What a fine institution it is ! And I saw 
your nurse, Jane, who was abroad with you, 
Chan, and I had a delightful talk with her. And 
this big boy is your brother Linn ? 

“And this is Amaryllis, and Primrose and 
Marigold and Harrison,’^ said his mother cor- 
dially, “ and last of all the twins. Why, it looks 
as if there were at least two years between them. 
Laurel stays so small.'' 

“ The smallest goods " laughed the visitor. 

“We have laces that are almost priceless, but 
which you could draw through a ring.” 

“ Let us go into the parlor and find some 
chairs,” began their mother. 

“ Don’t get very far away from me,” said Mr. 
Bernstein. “ I want to hear you talk, even if 
you all talk at once.” 

“ It makes a great racket, for they do some- 
times,” commented Mrs. Mann laughing. 

“ Why didn’t you have some children ? ” asked 
Tip shyly. 

“ Because my wife died when we had been 
married only a year. And I could never find 
one good enough to replace her. And then I 
became immersed in business and traveled 
about, and somehow clung to my dream of her. 
There were so many interests to life. And 


96 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

I guess I didn’t have so big a heart as your 
father.” 

Laurel, who had settled herself in her father’s 
lap, reached up and kissed him at hearing this 
praise of him. 

“ Have you been all over the world ?” ventured 
Tip again. 

“ Not quite. To India, China, and Japan,” 
laughed Mr. Bernstein. I have not explored 
Africa, only touching the northernmost shores.” 

“ Rilla’s friend went through the canal at 
Suez. She married a minister,” chirruped Rhoda. 

“ Yes, I went through the isthmus, and thence 
to the Indian Ocean. After exploring India, 
which is a queer, picturesque country, I then 
went through China and to Japan.” 

“ I’d like to know about the Japan children,” 
put in Tip. 

“ They are pretty little chaps, and run about 
with wooden guns on their shoulders. And 
then the flowers, the pretty little houses, the 
temples, the odd picturesque dresses, the proces- 
sions for various occasions, the pretty little 
women, such as you see nowhere else I ” 

“ Did you ever ride in one of those queer car- 
riages without horses?” asked Prim. 

“ Jinrikishas ? Oh, yes. When you go to a 


GROWING UP 


97 

strange country you take in all the queer things. 
Many are very beautiful, too.” 

“ Oh, there’s Mr. Evans ! ” cried Primrose, and 
rushed to the door. 

It was Amaryllis who introduced the minister 
to Mr. Bernstein. 

“ I am most happy to meet you, Mr. Bernstein, 
to thank you in person for your generous gift. 
From a stranger it has a double value,” was Mr. 
Evans’s earnest greeting. 

“ I think most of the credit belongs to your 
singer here, who entertained me with his rare gift. 
I was not aware that he makes also an admirable 
raconteur. Besides, I wanted to see the family, 
and feel amply repaid by their charms and diver- 
sity. I have been telling them that Chandler’s 
enthusiasm led me to visit that beautiful institu- 
tion designed for suffering children, and I found 
there the attendant that traveled with Chandler, 
and heard again the touching story of Arthur 
Collamore, whose father, a fine business man, 
I have known in a casual way.” 

“ And you must see my pretty room and the 
books which Arthur left me in his will, and my 
pictures. Nurse Jane told me about making 
your acquaintance. I think you have a lifelong 
friend,” put in Chan. 


98 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

Just then they were summoned to dinner. 
Mr. Bernstein thought they made a pretty pic- 
ture ranged round the table. Tip and Laurel 
were beside their father, while Amaryllis was on 
her mother’s left, with Mr. Bernstein in the place 
of the guest of honor. Linn was freely answer- 
ing Mr. Bernstein’s questions about his studies. 

“ I think German is quite necessary now for 
boys. We do so much business with Germany,” 
observed Mr. Bernstein. ‘‘ And Spanish is an- 
other language that is coming largely in demand 
even outside of Mexico and Cuba. But Chandler 
must learn French and Italian. What are you 
girls doing ? ” 

“ We make Amaryllis study with all of us,” 
said Linn mischievously. “ I try to hammer a 
little Latin into her. Oh, we are not all brilliant 
scholars. Chan had a great time with fractions. 
It nearly used him up, and yet music is divided 
into so many fractions.” 

But they all have a musical sound. At least 
to me,” sighed Chan, “and I am so fond of 
reading about the boyhood of those old musicians 
whose fathers insisted they should be something 
else. If they could only have met some one like 
Mr. Gwynne I ” 

“ You have been very fortunate, my boy,” 


GROWING UP 


99 

observed the guest. “ But there’s something 
about you that goes to one’s heart.” 

And then Prim was urged by Chan to tell of 
being painted, and how her picture was sold as 
that of a German girl. 

“ One can easily see how that might happen,” 
said Mr. Bernstein. 

“ But I’ve never been in love with yellow 
hair,” murmured Prim. 

“ What instrument have you taken up ? ” 

“ None,” answered Prim, humbly. “ I’d like 
the violin if it did not shriek and squeal. No, I 
haven’t any gift. Marigold is going to be a 
singer. At that I think we ought to stop and be 
commonplace.” 

“ I don’t think any of you will ever be very 
commonplace,” laughed Mr. Bernstein. 

“ Thank you,” and Prim, cheered again, made 
a graceful inclination of the head. 

When they returned to the parlor Chandler 
and Marigold sang. The story of Goldie being 
hidden behind the screen at the concert amused 
the guest very much, but Goldie tried to explain 
that she did not want people at church to stare 
her out of countenance. 

There were many protestations when the caller 
suddenly inquired about his train time. 


loo RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


“ It is a pity to ha.vejyou go,” said the host. 

** But I want to come again if you will allow 
me to.” 

“ We shall be happy to,” Mr. Mann assured 
him heartily. 

“ Stay until the latest minute. Bonnie will 
whisk you down in a hurry since the night is 
rather cold,” entreated Prim. 

‘‘ You must come again and see our pretty 
church property. You have an interest now, and 
it cements a friendship,” Chan reminded him. 

“ Only a very small interest,” put in Mr. Bern- 
stein. “ But, Chandler, I am glad to have you 
consider me a friend, and I hope ours will be a 
real and pleasant friendship. I shall always take 
a warm interest in your success, and shall be glad 
to meet your Mr. Gwynne again. And now I 
want to hear that bird chorus. And I must come 
and see that museum.” 

“ Grafton is beautiful in summer,” declared 
Prim. “ There are some magnificent trees, and 
up in the woods there are rhododendrons and 
honey-locust and laurel. And some people have 
such splendid flowers on their lawns. You see, 
some of them had to stop building on account of 
the cold. And it will be much prettier when the 
streets are finished,” 


GROWING UP 


lOI 


“ Yes, you may count on my being a future 
visitor I ” Mr. Bernstein assured them, and all the 
family bade him a most friendly adieu. Mr. 
Evans had gone some time before to visit a sick 
parishioner. 

“ My dear lad, I wish you the best and bright- 
est of fortunes,” was Mr. Bernstein’s special fare- 
well to Chan, as Dan drove up with Bonnie. 

“ He’s just splendid I ” said Primrose with 
enthusiasm. 

“ I wish I’d been gifted with a magnificent 
voice,” said Linn longingly. “ I think it is the 
most splendid thing one can have.” 

“ But you are smart,” declared Chan. ” You 
can do wonderful sums. And you may make a 
grand professor.” 

“ I’d like to make money and go traveling 
around the world,” and Linn sighed again. 

“ I’ll take you in my airship,” promised Tip. 
** I’ll have the right sort of one some day.” 

“ I think you will. Tip,” laughed his father. 

A few days after this, Mrs. Mann said that Cap 
must be thinking of wedding apparel, and advised 
her to buy two gowns, as that would be much 
less bother than having them made. And she 
must have a stylish warm coat. 

“ Don’t you suppose Mrs. Greer would help 


102 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


us ? ” suggested Amaryllis. I think she has 
such nice taste.” 

“ And she is very obliging,” added her mother. 

Mrs. Greer said she would be happy to do 
anything for them, and urged Cap to shop then, 
as goods were unusually cheap. So one day 
Cap went to town in the company of Mrs. Greer 
and Amaryllis. Mrs. Mann felt that she could 
not be spared. 

And as it turned out the mother had a rather 
amusing episode at home. Just after the children 
had had their luncheon (the weather being un- 
usually pleasant for the season, the children 
liked the run home from school), a quite elabo- 
rately dressed lady came around to the play-room 
door and rang the bell there. 

“You do not know me,” she began abruptly, 
“ and I have come on an errand. I am Miss 
Penworthy.” 

Mrs. Mann nodded. 

“ I heard your maid was going away ; at least, 
was to be married, and I came to see if folks 
supposed she was a fixture,” the lady continued 
with a light laugh. 

“ It is true that I am to lose her,” agreed Mrs. 
Mann, “ and I am most sorry for myself. 1 don’t 
see how I can replace her.” 


GROWING UP 


103 

I came to see — I have a very excellent girl 
in my mind. Is yours a cook or a second-girl ? ** 
the caller went on eagerly. 

I keep only one. We have a very useful 
man,” responded Mrs. Mann. 

“ With all that family of children ! ” exclaimed 
Miss Penworthy, raising her brows in surprise. 

“ So far we have done very well,” responded 
Mrs. Mann gently. 

“ We couldn’t think the engagement rumor 
true at first. We heard it was Mr. Joseph 
Alston,” ran on the visitor. 

“ Don’t you think he is — that he might have 
looked higher with that nice farm ? ” was the 
officious visitor’s comment on being assured Joe 
was the man. 

“ He wanted a farmer’s wife. Cappadocia is a 
farmer’s daughter, and will fill the place ex- 
cellently. I think he couldn’t have made a better 
choice,” Mrs. Mann responded. 

‘‘ We didn’t suppose there was any truth in it. 
He has flirted around so much with better-class 
girls.” 

‘‘ Girls better known perhaps,” corrected Mrs. 
Mann, who was growing somewhat impatient, 
but the Terry girls may have quite a bit when 
their father is done with it. Every girl has her 


104 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

own house and they are all good, self-respecting 
girls. I don’t see that he could have done better. 
Both of his parents will need a good deal of 
care as time goes on, and Cap has a large tender 
heart. Yes, I think he has chosen very wisely. 
You think the maid you spoke of wouldn’t be 
willing to come unless two girls were kept?” 

“ Oh, no indeed I Most people do keep two 
in such a house as this.” 

Miss Penworthy rose with an almost super- 
cilious air and wished Mrs. Mann good-morning. 

Mrs. Mann laughed a little at this singular 
intrusion, as she went about her household 
duties. She recollected that she herself had 
doubted Joe somewhat until the day he had said 
with homely sincerity : “You see, Mrs. Mann, I 
like a bit of fun as well as the next one, and I 
don’t see but the girls have been ready enough 
to make a bid for me. But I wanted some one 
who would be good to the old folks and wouldn’t 
be gadding about nor wanting to go to dances 
or card parties two or three times a week. Cap 
just suits me ; but I’ll admit she was rather hard 
to get. She didn’t drop like a ripe plum. And 
we’re going to be real happy, you mind that. 
There won’t be much flirting, you’ll see.” 

It was quite late when the shoppers reached 


GROWING UP 


105 

home. Cap wore her cloak, a beautiful thick 
chinchilla-cloth trimmed with fur. The blue 
dress, of Joe’s favorite shade, had a strip of fur 
around the bottom. The silk dress in three 
shades of brown, and brocaded in small figures, 
Mrs. Greer had pronounced really beautiful. 
Then there were gloves, a few smaller acces- 
sories, and some handsome linen, which were sent 
with the other things. The hat was blue velvet 
with two beautiful feathers. 

The silk dress was to be a wedding present 
from the whole household. Mr. Mann had 
thought that as Cap’s house would be fur- 
nished there was no use in buying articles to lay 
away. 

“ And it is our expression of appreciation of 
your faithful services, your affection and all your 
kindly usefulness. We shall miss you. Cap, as 
if you were some relative,” Mr. Mann had told 
the girl sincerely. 

“ But I’m coming over to see you real often,” 
Cap reminded them. ** And Joe says he’s 
going to steal Laurel and Tip if we shouldn’t 
have any children of our own. And oh, Mrs. 
Mann, you’ve done so many nice things for me 
and trained me in so many nice ways, I feel as 
if I owed you a great deal. And one can get 


io6 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


along without so much scolding as poor mother 
used to do. And she was so amazed when I 
told her you never took a strap to one of the 
children. Joe says they're brought up by the 
rule of fun.” 

“ I was always too tired to scold much,” Mrs. 
Mann said laughingly. And Rilla was always 
so sweet. Scolding is a bad habit people get 
into.” 

“ And ril try to keep out of it.” 

Later in the week the dresses came home and 
were duly admired. Joe, who came over every 
day, was a great favorite with the children. Cap 
had made a big fruit-cake for Christmas, and Mrs. 
Manp insisted she should take half of it, although 
a cousin had offered the girl one for a wedding 
present. Cap looked over the old things in the 
storeroom and found a low rush-bottomed sew- 
ing chair and an old-fashioned work table that 
Dan repaired and polished up. 

“ There'll be enough left for the next maid if 
she's worth it,” said Cap. 

“We think of sending the rest out to the barn 
and making a nice room of this. Possibly Tip 
will want a room to himself as he grows older. 
It's fortunate we have a barn to use as a work- 
shop,” observed Mrs. Mann. 


GROWING UP 


107 

It had been an open, pleasant winter, and the 
birds began to fly about and call to each other. 

“ Let^s all pray that the fourteenth may be 
splendid ! ” proposed Primrose, enthusiastically. 

Joe had insisted that Amaryllis and Primrose 
should come over to see what a real country 
wedding feast was like. Tryphena, who had 
come down to Grafton the night before, was as 
much interested as any of the children, and 
thought the wedding apparel was fine enough 
for some great lady. Cap’s trunk and her be- 
longings were started off for her new home in 
the morning. Phene and the two oldest Firth 
girls were in white frocks for the occasion. Joe 
came down in the big carriage. 

Chan played part of the wedding march 1 
The couple walked through the hall and entered 
the parlor, and stood before the family and a few 
neighbors, just where Bessy and Mr. Mann had 
stood years before. Mr. Evans performed the 
ceremony. Cap stood with downcast eyes. It 
didn’t seem as if she was truly going to be 
married, she thought. But when Joe turned 
and kissed her and said, — “ My dear wife I ” the 
tears shone in her eyes. 

Then there were honest congratulations and 
the neighbors remarked to each other that Cap 


io8 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


deserved a good husband, if ever any one did. 
They had a little spread, and then were put in 
the big carriage with good wishes and showers 
of rice, and Cappadocia Terry Alston was driven 
to her new home. 

The small concourse lingered for a friendly 
talk in her praise. 

“ I really don’t believe you’ll ever find another 
like her,” said Mrs. Boyse. “And she was so 
motherly to all the children without spoiling 
them. For once virtue is really rewarded I ” 

“ I think that Cap has a worthy husband, and 
I trust that they will be happy and prosperous,” 
said Mrs. Mann gently. 


CHAPTER VII 


A TRIAL OF PATIENCE 

A KIND neighbor, Mrs. Wilson, had offered to 
come and stay with Mrs. Mann until she could 
find another suitable maid. Dan went over for 
the girls, who had attended the wedding spread. 

‘‘It was a real jolly time — that word just ex- 
presses it. And the relatives all seemed to take 
to Cap. Mrs. Alston is a sweet elderly lady — 
not really old — and she was ever so glad we 
came over to the wedding party. She hoped 
Joe’s wife wouldn’t get homesick after having so 
many around ; for they are rather quiet people. 
Joe would be very good to her, the mother said, 
for he was good to everything. Even the chick- 
ens loved him, and it did seem as if they asked 
for him when he wasn’t at home at feeding time. 
And the gray squirrels would run up on his 
shoulder and chatter to him. She said she had 
hoped he’d get a sweet, domestic wife, and that 
she had heard Mrs. Downs, the oldest sister, was 
very nice and thrifty ; and, in fact, all the Terry 
girls were well spoken of. The dear old lady 
109 


1 1 o RED HO USE CHILDREN 


said, ‘I’m so glad to have Joe married, and that 
he didn’t take one of those high-flying things, 
who care just for dressing and card-playing.’ 
You can’t think. Mother, how proud Mrs. Alston 
is of Joe’s choice — ^just as if she had made it I ” 
Thus Amaryllis expatiated to the family regard- 
ing the event. 

“ And there were lots of funny people there,” 
added Prim enthusiastically. “Some of them 
brought little children. And there were some 
real old ladies in caps, and some queer old men, 
who went out and smoked pipes in the wash- 
room (they didn’t call it laundry). And the 
supper ! A great long table with all the old- 
time things you could think of ! Such a splen- 
did turkey, and the most beautiful pink ham — 
and chickens — and baked pork I And it all 
tasted good, too ; didn’t it, Rilla ? ” 

“ Yes, it did — as good as if Cap had cooked 
it. I couldn’t taste half the things. They all 
seem to think a great deal of Mr. Alston. And 
I’m glad Cap captured him,” laughed Rilla. 

“ And first the young people twirled the plates 
and played forfeits. Some of them were very 
funny. After supper some of the older people 
went home, and the dancing began. And they 
danced with a will.” 


GROWING UP 


1 1 1 


Oh, girls, I hope you didn’t ” murmured 

Mrs. Mann. 

“ Mother, you truly could not help yourself,” 
ran on Prim. “Joe made us dance with him. 
He declared the bridesmaids always did. It was 
only a plain kind of stepping round. We often 
do as well in the school-yard. And then two 
young men danced jigs which really were enter- 
taining. After that the guests began to go 
home. By twelve o’clock the party broke up. 
Every one was sweet and cordial to Cap and 
there were some nice gifts. We three girls (for 
Phene is visiting there for a while) slept in one 
bed, but the room was very large, and as it had 
a register, we were able to get up in the morning 
and not shiver. Take it altogether. I’m glad we 
were invited. Cap was up the next morning 
helping with the breakfast. And Joe was very 
sweet and nice to his new wife, but I never sup- 
posed Cap could be so full of blushes. Mother 
Alston gave us a most cordial invitation to 
come as often as we could, so that Cappadocia 
wouldn’t get homesick.” 

“ And I do wonder if they are going to give 
her all that long name ! ” said Rilla. 

“Joe won’t,” laughed Prim. 

That afternoon, when the children had gone 


1 1 2 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


to school, and Mrs. Wilson, the helper, was out 
visiting an acquaintance, seriously ill, there had 
been two more applicants for Cap’s place. 

The first young woman would not take a place 
where only one maid was kept ; the other, a 
rather jaunty-looking damsel, had two seem- 
ingly excellent recommendations, but said both 
of her former employers had moved to a neigh- 
boring town. 

“You may call for an answer to-morrow,” 
Mrs. Mann instructed her, after some considera- 
tion, and then went down to consult Mrs. Boyse. 

“You’ve had such a fine time with your Cap, 
and now I am afraid you will go through the 
wilderness for a while. It often happens that 
way,” said the neighbor. 

“ But are there no good domestics ? ” sighed 
Mrs. Mann. 

“Yes, but the people who have them want to 
keep them. I have an acquaintance at Ridge- 
wood who kept raising her girl’s wages up to 
twenty-four dollars a month, but when the girl 
insisted upon another dollar, let her go. After 
two months the girl offered to come back for 
twenty-four, but my friend would not take her. 
She later found a very good girl for twenty.” 

“ But about this one — my last applicant ? ” 


GROWING UP 


** It seems to me she is over- praised,” warned 
Mrs. Boyse. 

“ That is the way it looked to me. She says 
she is twenty-three, but she looks nearer thirty.” 

“It is always a good plan to see the past 
mistress, but I am sorry to say she will not al- 
ways tell the truth,” advised Mrs. Boyse. 

Mrs. Mann sighed. 

“ I really must have some one. We have the 
washing done now by a Mrs. Gregg who is 
satisfactory, but she doesn’t iron. Perhaps I 
had better try this Nora Miller.” 

“Only for a month. Don’t hold out any 
hope,” was Mrs. Boyse’s last warning. 

Nora, who was engaged forthwith, rather de- 
murred at the large family, but it was explained 
that the older girls cared for their rooms while 
Mrs. Mann looked after the younger children’s, 
and that as the man attended to the furnace and 
did the outside sweeping, she had only the 
kitchen work and the ironing. 

The first week Nora had to be inducted into 
many new ways. She did not come up to either 
of her recommendations. The second week she 
did better, but Mrs. Mann, when away from 
home, really could not trust her about the meals. 
One morning, when Mrs. Mann was very anxious 


1 14 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

to alter Marigold’s last winter’s frock to make it 
do for a while in the spring, she instructed Nora: 

** The children will be home to luncheon, 
Nora. Heat up the stew, and then make some 
of those wheat fritters the children are so fond 
of. I want to fix over a school dress.” 

After going up-stairs, it took Mrs. Mann some 
time to remodel the dress and begin at the 
sewing-machine. Presently there was a smell 
suspiciously like burning vegetables. The 
housewife ran down-stairs, and beheld the 
kitchen blue with smoke, and no Nora in sight. 
Mrs. Mann snatched off the saucepan, with the 
charred and pungent remains of parsnips, and 
put the dish out-of-doors. After opening the 
windows, and examining the dish, she found it 
burned beyond any salvation. Of late, it had 
been observed that Nora had been making visits 
to the barn, and seemed fond of talking to Dan, 
Mrs. Mann recalled. At all events, as the chil- 
dren would be home soon and would have to 
lunch on fritters, since the left-overs were spoiled, 
they must be mixed at once. 

Mrs. Mann saw Nora running from the barn. 

‘‘Where have you been all this time? And 
the children’s dinner is burned up,” exclaimed 
the mistress. 


GROWING UP 


115 

**Why, I haven’t been gone ten minutes. 
Those white saucepans burn very easily,” replied 
Nora glibly. 

“ I told you they were to be used only for 
stewing fruit ” 

“ Well, I suppose I didn’t look sharp. Is it 
all spoiled? Why, I’m quite sure I haven’t been 
gone over ten minutes,” interrupted the girl. 

‘‘ Yes, you have. And it was your business to 
stay here as you have been told. Girls some- 
times are made to pay for what they destroy.” 

“ Oh, I’ll pay for it,” loftily retorted the 
damsel. 

“ Begin to bake the fritters, please. I see the 
children coming,” instructed Mrs. Mann. 

A minute or two more Tip flew into the house. 
The girls followed more slowly. 

“ I smelled parsnips ’way up the street,” and 
Tip looked around inquiringly. 

“ I guess the neighbors did, too. We’ve per- 
fumed the air,” the mother sighed. 

‘‘ Burnt all up ? Oh, I’m so sorry. I do love 
them so ! ” said Tip. 

Nora began to bake the fritters. 

“These aren’t brown enough. I don’t think 
white-livered things taste as good,” observed 
Tip. 


1 1 6 RED HO USE CHILDREN 


‘‘And some people can’t bear them brown,” 
said Nora sharply, with a toss of the head. 

“ I was first-rate to-day, teacher said,” began 
Rhoda as they waited for luncheon. “ I’ve had 
perfect cards so far. I’ll be promoted back to 
Morton Street in the summer. Mother. You 
might as well have left me there.” 

“The county wouldn’t have allowed your 
father to send you there,” replied her mother. 

The fritters were good after all, and the chil- 
dren started for school again. Mrs. Mann went 
back to her sewing. Nora tried to scour the 
saucepan, but could not restore it to its original 
whiteness. 

“ Those things burn awful easy. I wouldn’t 
give them house-room,” she declared spitefully. 

“ Nora, I may as well tell you you can look for 
a new situation. I shall not keep you when 
your month is up,” Mrs. Mann rather reluctantly 
informed the new girl that afternoon. 

“ But you see things were new and strange, 
and it takes some time to get in other folks’ 
ways,” pleaded Nora. 

Mrs. Mann thought best to vouchsafe no reply, 
and walked out of the room. 

Thursday afternoon Nora came down-stairs 
dressed in her best 


GROWING UP 


117 

“ Tm quite sure I sha’n’t be home to dinner,” 
she announced. “ Fm going quite a distance. 
There’s only steak to broil and that’s easily 
done.” 

Mrs. Mann nodded agreeably. 

Half an hour afterward, while Mrs. Mann was 
making raised biscuit, Dan came in, took a seat 
and put his hat down on the floor. 

“I don’t know,” he began with awkward 
hesitation, “ but I ought to give notice. I be- 
lieve Fm afraid to stay any longer.” 

“ Afraid ? ” Mrs. Mann turned, astonished, and 
looked at him. 

“Yes. Fm afraid she’ll snap me up. I object to 
being married out of hand,” the man continued. 
“ I like you all very much, and wish Fd been 
smart enough to marry Cap, though she’s done 
a sight better than taking me.” 

“ Fm glad you didn’t take a fancy to Cap’s 
successor. You had better stay single. I did 
not mean to keep her. She is poor help.” 

“ And she wants to get married awfully bad. 
She has it all planned out. So many people 
living in the country would rather have a married 
couple as they would be more content, and not 
want to keep changing, as their interests would 
be the same. And Fd like that kind of a home 


1 1 8 RED HO USE CHILDREN 


interest myself, some place where it wasn’t too 
lonesome. She wouldn’t care so much for high 
wages, but just to be made happy with some one 
she could love and all that sort of stuff. I see 
after a couple of weeks what she was drivin’ at, 
and I was a little afraid she’d snap it on me some 
day. So I locked my door inside and kept 
mighty quiet. A few days ago she was there 
three times, and she asked me to take her over 
to Ridgewood but I told her the boys would. 
She did get in that day she burned the children’s 
lunch, but I saw them coming and told her she 
had better go. I think it riled her up, but the next 
day she was over it. Men are caught that way 
sometimes.” 

“I’m glad you had such good sense, Dan. 
I’ve given her notice. She isn’t at all neat in 
the kitchen, and stands stretched out of the 
window a good deal of the time. She complains 
of the children — eight are so many. No, I 
shouldn’t keep her,” Mrs. Mann assured him. 

“ Well, we’ll try and stand it for just a week 
longer. And I’ll come in and do anything for 
you.” 

“ Thank you, Dan.” 

Miss Nora tried to beg another month, plead- 
ing that when she was fairly accustomed to Mrs. 


GROWING UP 


119 

Mannas ways she was sure she could suit them. 
But the mistress was firm. 

“ rd try one for a week/^ said Mrs. Greer. “ I 
did that quite a while before I met with Catharine. 
And she really did try to please me. She was 
an excellent laundress and a very respectful body. 
She has made an agreeable, quiet sort of maid.” 

So Mary came. She was smart — one of the 
hustlers. The dishes suffered. She was a good 
cook, but very wasteful ; so she went her way. 

Then came Martha, who was clean and tidy, 
but so very slow that Mrs. Mann was obliged to 
get the breakfast. Moreover, she forgot so much, 
never putting an article twice in the same place. 
But she could cook very well when once started 
right. One morning, however, the coffee had a 
queer taste. 

“ What is the matter with it ? ” asked Mr. 
Mann. “ I bought a pound yesterday. Has it 
changed ? ” 

“ Martha, did you use the new can of coffee ? ” 
inquired Mrs. Mann anxiously. 

‘‘ Well, it was nearly all out. There wasnT 
enough. Oh, Mem, I put in a little tea. I 
thought it wouldn’t hurt ! ” explained Martha, 
much to the amusement of the eight tittering 
Firths. 


120 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


Mrs. Mann hunted up the new can and made 
the coffee, which proved all right. 

“ What did possess you to put the tea in ? ” 
the mistress asked. 

“ Why, Mem, I like the tea the best,’^ and 
Martha turned very red. “ I didn’t see the new 
can.” 

“ If you only could put things in their proper 
places,” sighed Mrs. Mann. 

Mr. Mann laughed. 

“ I’ve heard of an old woman who said she 
could drink ‘ tay-tay ’ and ‘ coffee-tay,’ but best of 
all she liked ‘whiskey-tay.’ ” 

“ I don’t believe I should like it for breakfast,” 
declared Linn. 

And so when her month was up, Martha, too, 
went her way. 

“ I’ve always heard that a good mistress made 
a good maid. Perhaps I’m mistaken ; or am I 
a poor mistress ?” mused Mrs. Mann. 

They all made a protest at that. 

After Martha’s month was up, Mrs. Mann 
asked Dan if he could spare time to paint 
the kitchen walls and stain the floor, as she would 
like to have it cleaned to remove traces of her 
recent incompetent helpers. 

“ Why, yes. It’s too early for spring work, and 


GROWING UP 


121 


Tve a sort of longing to be busy about some- 
thing/’ was Dan’s eager reply. “ That first girl 
kept me so hived up, I hardly dared stir out. The 
cheek of her wanting to go driving every few 
days. Twice I sent Chan with her, and she 
didn’t like it a bit. It’s lucky I escaped her win- 
some ways,” and Dan laughed. 

Meanwhile several other applicants inquired. 

“ You’ve made the kitchen look so nice that I 
almost feel as if I didn’t want any one to come 
in and get it in disorder again I ” exclaimed Mrs. 
Mann, as Dan finished his day’s work. 

One morning Fritzie Bachman rode over on 
his bicycle, and announced enthusiastically : 

“ Mother’s got a girl just come from Europe, 
and she wants you to see her. She’s real first- 
class, too. Some sort of a cousin. And Mother 
wants you to please to come over.” 

“Well, now, that’s funny. I’ll harness up 
Bonnie, and you go at once. Ask her if she’s 
hankering to get married. We don’t want that 
kind,” commented Dan dryly. 

Fritzie touched his cap and was off. 

“ Well, that’s odd, too I ” ejaculated Mrs. 
Mann. “ A German likely. I’ll go and change 
my frock.” 

She came down equipped for the drive. 


122 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


“ Perhaps you’ll have to get the luncheon, 
Dan,” she said as she drove away. 

“ Well, there .isn’t any parsnip stew for me to 
scent the house with.” 

It was a soft, half-cloudy morning with sug- 
gestions of rain, but Mrs. Mann enjoyed the 
drive, as she had not been out much in the day- 
time. How really tidy her old Red House looked 
— cheerful, too, with the racket of the poultry and 
the squealing of the pigs ! The vines had been 
trimmed, and the grass was green with a thrifty 
look. She gave thanks again for her nice 
tenant. Mrs. Bachman, delighted as usual to 
receive her landlady, eagerly opened the door. 

“ I was so glad you could come. Jetty, 
my niece, likes it here, and is learning to sew 
with the man. But she is used to hpusework and 
gets tired sitting. Oh, take a seat,” began Mrs. 
Bachman heartily. 

After hitching Bonnie, although there was no 
great danger of the horse being startled on this 
back road, Mrs. Mann came in and accepted the 
willow rocker. How tidy and really pretty every- 
thing looked ! 

“ This girl’s mother was my cousin who died 
leaving her little girl. Then the man married 
again and went up to German-Poland, where the 


GROWING UP 123 

new wife^s folks lived. The oldest son had to go 
into the army, and there are eight children be- 
side. An old man wanted to marry Jetty, that 
she didn’t like, but her stepmother did because 
he had a farm. Jetty wrote to me. She had 
lived out, and saved up some money, and wanted 
to come to America. She is twenty-three now. 
So I told her how we had prospered and found 
such nice friends, and that she could get a good 
place at higher wages, though I didn’t know 
you were going to have such trouble, and she 
decided to come. The stepmother was angry 
about it and tried to get her two years’ wages. 
But a good friend helped her after I wrote for 
her to come. Oh, it was a long journey, but a 
woman was coming to meet her husband, and 
Jetty helped her with her two children. Then 
the man went down to meet her, and you never 
saw a gladder creature than she was when she 
reached here. And the friend meets the husband 
in the great city, and it is all settled after the 
long journey. And by that time one day the 
man, Dan, came over and told us what hard 
times you had with servants since your nice girl 
married, and Jetty was so interested, and asked if 
I didn’t think she could learn your ways, — that 
she would try her best. She doesn’t know much 


124 HOUSE CHILDREN 

about sewing, and Gretchen, my girl, is much 
quicker with the bastings. But she is clean, and 
good-tempered, and smart and strong. She’d 
make a nice servant when she knew your ways. 
So I took the liberty of sending, dear Mrs. Mann 
— and if you will excuse and be willing to try 
her ” pleaded the good-hearted woman. 

“ Oh, you don’t know how thankful I shall be 
for some one clean, who can remember things she 
is told, and who really tries to please. I was 
pretty well discouraged,” Mrs. Mann assured her. 

“ I wanted to tell you all this, and now will 
you let me call her ? ” added the woman. 

‘‘ With pleasure.” 

“ She calls me Aunt. She is so fond of hav- 
ing some relatives of her own. Oh, I do think 
you will like her,” and she called the girl. 

Jetty Breksha entered the room, and made a 
courtesy, with a much-flushed face. She was a 
stocky, round-faced blonde, rather short in the 
nose and wide in the mouth, but with a splendid 
display of teeth. Her English was poor as yet, but 
she seemed so honest and earnest, and her voice 
so pleasant that prospective mistress and helper 
made each other understand. 

“Greta has been teaching her English. She 
can sew pretty well and she knits rapidly stock- 


GROWING UP 


125 

ings and mittens and caps. She sweeps and 
scrubs, washes and irons — not fine as your maids 
do, but she can learn,’’ Mrs. Bachman put in. 

“ Oh, I will try to learn everything you would 
want me to. lam sure I will like you and the 
children. I’m glad of that. Aunt said there was 
one who sang so sweetly in church and made 
money. That is wonderful,” murmured the girl. 

Then they talked about her coming, which 
could be at any time. Mrs. Mann would send 
for her to come and see how she liked it. 

“ And is there any garden, and some chickens ? 
I can milk and churn. And you lived in this 
pretty house. Aunt said. And the cat is still 
here, but she is old and lazy, but there is a new 
one that catches mice. Yes, I am sure I will be 
content and try to please you,” declared Jetty. 

So it was arranged that Jetty would come over 
on Thursday. The man would come for her. 

“ But if I could walk it would save trouble.” 

“ Oh, it is too far. The man is often out doing 
errands,” responded Mrs. Mann. 

There was a fragrant smell of coffee. 

‘‘ Oh, you must not get any lunch for me,” 
protested Mrs. Mann. 

“ Yes, yes I ” insisted Mrs. Bachman. “ Jetty 
made this bread and you must taste it and an 


1 26 RED HO USE CHILDREN 

egg. Sunday we had some nice custard. You 
see, Jetty really can cook, although not quite in 
American fashion.” 

There was canned fruit also, and it was an en- 
joyable little treat. 

“ But that American fashion is what I want to 
learn,” announced Jetty. ‘‘I’ll try my best.” 

“ Your bread is very good,” pronounced Mrs. 
Mann. 

“ Aunt thought it too light. Our people like 
it solid. And the black bread made of rye ^most 
breaks your teeth out, it is so like a rock.” And 
Jetty laughed. 

“ Well, we shall send over for you, and you 
may see how you like us,” concluded Mrs. Mann. 

Jetty made another courtesy as they said 
good-by. Bonnie, waiting rather impatiently 
for his mistress, started off with a whinny. 

The children, whom Bessy met on the way 
home, ran back a few steps. “ Did you find her ? 
What a queer name 1 ” 

“ Run on to school or you’ll be late. You will 
hear all when you com6 home,” their mother re- 
sponded. 

Dan had set the lunch in the kitchen for the 
children and for Mrs. Mann. There were pan- 
cakes and a bit of broiled ham. 


GROWING UP 


127 

“ Don^t change anything, Dan. I had a slice 
of bread the girl made. I almost think she’ll 
do, but I’m afraid to trust too much. She is 
twenty-three, but doesn’t look over eighteen. A 
nice, clean, wholesome-looking girl, unmistakably 
German,” announced Mrs. Mann. “I do think 
that second one wasn’t quite honest. Oh, I do 
hope she will answer 1 ” 

The children were wild to hear when they 
came home, and plied their mother with ques- 
tions. 

“ ‘ Jetty Breksha ’ ; what a funny name ! ” 
laughed Prim. 

“ I must hunt up German-Poland,” said Rhoda. 
“ I suppose it must belong to Germany. Does 
she talk very Dutch ? ” 

“ She’s not Dutch at all,” said Tip, with some 
superiority. “ She didn’t come from Holland.” 

Oh, yes, I did know that.” 

“ When is she coming ? ” Goldie inquired. 

“ Dan will go over for her on Thursday,” re- 
plied Mrs. Mann. 

‘‘We just had a lovely lunch,” said Laurel. 
“ Why can’t Dan keep house ? ” 

“ I’m afraid Bonnie and Lady Betty wouldn’t 
quite approve of that. They are fond of exer- 
cise,” laughed her mother. 


128 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


Then the older girls and Chan had to hear 
about Jetty, and at night Mr. Mann prophesied 
that the new girl would be a treasure. He liked 
the Germans, although some were rather slow 
and stolid. That night they all went to bed 
quite relieved, and also happy after a talk about 
the little old Red House and the Bachmans. 

Jetty came Thursday afternoon with her 
worldly goods in a gray woolen blanket tied up 
by the corners. She thought her room beauti- 
ful, even prettier than Greta’s. All the children 
were so nice, she said, and marveled at the girls’ 
pretty clothes. Why, it was almost like a 
palace ; and the beautiful boy who sang I Oh, 
she liked America so much better than Europe ! 
She was so glad to live here ! And she hoped 
they would all like her and tell her when she did 
anything that was not what they wanted. 

“You need not get up until six o’clock in the 
morning,” Mrs. Mann said, “We do not rise 
very early. And I will show you how we man- 
age the breakfast.” 

“There were so many at Engleshaft/’ Jetty 
informed Mrs. Mann. “Two tables, one for the 
workmen, and how they did eat I There was 
black bread and tea and a saucer of barley. I 
waited on the family and went to the next table. 


GROWING UP 


129 

and then we put on the things to make the soup ; 
sometimes it was cabbage and turnips, and 
sometimes salt fish with it. And I had to knit 
a good deal and weed ; but in winter we went to 
bed early. Three of us slept in one bed. It was 
awful cold some nights. Oh, so nice and warm 
it is at Aunt’s. I would like to live with her, but 
your house is finer. And you all lived in that 
little house ? ’’ she said. 

“ But the children were all little then,” mur- 
mured Mrs. Mann. 

“ And there were so many there in Germany 
among the servants. Oh, I shall feel queer in a 
bed by myself.” 

“ But the two boys sleep up-stairs. Oh, you 
need not feel afraid,” Mrs. Mann reassured her. 

“ Nein, nein I ” muttered Jetty with a grin. 

She was quite amazed at the furnishing of 
her room. It was even better than that at the 
Red House I In ten minutes Jetty was sound 
asleep. 

Next morning long before daylight Jetty was 
up and doing, but no one else was stirring until 
Dan came to fix the furnace. 

“ Oh, you needn’t get up so early. I rake 
this fire, and set on the kettle, and the oatmeal 
will soon boil,” Dan endeavored to explain, but 


130 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

at sight of Jetty’s yarn and needles, exclaimed, 
“ What have you got there ? ” 

“ Why, my knitting,” stammered the girl hesi- 
tatingly. “ You don’t ask me to do much, see ; 
or is there perhaps some outdoor sweeping?” 

** I do that,” explained Dan. 

Whereupon Jetty proceeded with a big com- 
forter she had begun for Fritzie. How her 
needles flew ! 

Presently Mrs. Mann came down. ‘‘We have 
taken an early start this morning,” she said. 
“You are very industrious. Jetty.” 

“ There were so many to knit for at Crastow. 
They scolded if you didn’t improve every mo- 
ment,” the girl explained with a broad smile. 
“ Will you tell me what I can do for you ? ” 

“ Our breakfasts are quite simple. A little 
fried bacon and some fried potatoes, or creamed 
in milk, and a plate of toast. Then some morn- 
ings we have pancakes. I think the variety is 
good. In addition, we have milk toast ; some- 
times a little cold meat or eggs. We generally 
plan for the night. On very cold mornings I 
like the pancakes and maple syrup.” 

Jetty’s eyes shone with delight. 

Then the children began to gather in the 
dining-room, and wished Jetty a cheerful good 


GROWING UP 


131 

morning. Jetty served the cereal properly and 
waited eagerly on some of the children who 
liked syrup on it. They had a little talk on 
school, and if she had slept well. Chan came 
down later than the others and had some toast 
and fruit. 

Breakfast dispatched, the three older ones 
opened their beds to air, and then made ready 
for school, Amaryllis looking after the younger 
ones. Their father kissed them all and started 
off. 

It was queer to have no wrangling among 
workmen and maids. Jetty reflected ; every- 
thing seemed so pleasant here. Later Dan 
came in and took breakfast with Jetty, but he 
had hard work to understand her. She seemed 
surprised when he admitted that he milked the 
cow and fed the chickens and looked after the 
horses ! 

Afterward, Jetty washed the dishes and was 
admonished to be careful. She did not rattle 
and clatter, however, and wiped them very 
thoroughly. 

Aunt told me I must be careful We had 
such thick ones at home, but I didn^t like the 
noise myself. Oh, it is so nice here. I hope I 
can suit you. I will try my best,” said Jetty. 


132 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“Yes, try to be careful. You need not be in 
a hurry — only wipe them nice and dry, and 
brush up around the stove.” 

“ And then Fll scrub the floor,” put in Jetty 
eagerly. 

“ No, you need not ! The floor has been 
painted and then gone over with a hard prepara- 
tion. You just go over it with this mop. The 
paint must not be scrubbed off,” explained her 
mistress. 

Jetty looked amazed. 

Mrs. Mann handed down the mop for her, and 
showed her how to use it. 

“ Then you hang it out-of-doors to dry.” 

That finished, the two went down cellar, and 
Mrs. Mann explained where the different articles 
and the food were kept. There was the big 
closet with an out-of-doors window, the pile of 
kindlings, boxes of vegetables, the closet of 
canned fruit, and a barrel of apples. The fur- 
nace was in an enclosed place, about which Dan 
had put everything in the nicest order. 

“ Now, if you don’t mind,” he had said, “ I’m 
going to keep these things in their right places. 
Let us train this new girl in the right way or else 
send her off.” 

“ I think she will be quite easily trained. She 


GROWING UP 


133 

is very anxious to please. And she is clean,” 
Mrs. Mann had replied confidently. Oh, some- 
how I think we shall get along. She has not 
had her own way in many things. She’s rather 
hard to understand, but I think that as three of 
the children are learning German (although it 
isn’t quite like what she is accustomed to) that 
we shall get along. She seems willing to learn 
my ways, and Mrs. Bachman has been training 
her.” 

“ Well, she is a very nice body and keeps her 
house in good order,” agreed Dan. 

“ She is a real German,” commented Mrs. 
Mann. 

Jetty came in full of enthusiasm from a tour 
of inspection about the premises. The little cow 
was so nice and the chickens were cackling with 
all their might ! Oh, everything was so nice I 
She was so glad to be here ! 

“ Then you must learn to talk English, so we 
can know just what you mean,” Dan returned 
rather gruffly. 

Unassisted, Jetty made the stew for dinner 
with some bits of cold meat and a few fragments 
of baked pork, and because she thought she had 
rather too much water in it, thriftily made some 
dumplings, which the children thought fine. 


134 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ I’m glad she makes things taste good,” said 
Tip. 

It chanced that Joe and Cap drove by that 
afternoon. They had been to Ridgewood. 

“ Oh, do stop and have some stew ! ” cried 
Laurel. “It’s just splendid. And Jetty made 
it.” 

“ I think I will have some,” agreed Cap. 
“ That dumpling looks as light as sponge. And 
let me see how the new girl gets along.” 

“ And we’re just having lunch in the kitchen,” 
said Mrs. Mann, hospitably. “ It’s time you 
started for school, children.” 

“ Cap wants you to stay to dinner, Mr. Alston. 
You’ve never been here to stay to lunch,” com- 
plained Tip. 

“ Well, I guess not much,” laughed Joe, 
roguishly. “ But we will come over and see how 
the Dutch girl pans out. And you are just the 
same jolly lot.” 

But Mrs. Mann insisted they should have some 
lunch, for it was quite a long ride home. Joe 
pronounced the stew “ almost as good as Cap’s.” 

As the children started off for school, Joe made 
a welcome proposal — that he should come for 
them some Saturday, as his mother wanted to 
see the little ones. 


GROWING UP 


135 

The honey mooners really had a jolly time, 
even if it was in the kitchen. Joe teased Cap a 
little, declaring that he didn’t dare let her drive 
down alone, fearing she would stay and then 
he’d be minus a horse and a wife. The couple 
laughed over Dan’s fear of being captured. 

“ I don’t see how girls can be so foolish,” 
sneered Cap, and added heartily : “ And I want 
the big girls to drive up some Saturday, and 
Chan. I do miss you all so much I ” 

Joe seconded heartily this wish, and the hope 
that the new girl would be satisfactory. 

** Well, it has been quite a day,” pronounced 
Mrs. Mann. “ Now, Jetty, we shall have some 
potatoes and turnips with the steak; and for 
dessert, some baked apples. I’ll broil the steak.” 
Jetty studied the steak attentively in the numer- 
ous turns of the cooking process, however. 

The table was very neatly set, and the vege- 
tables done to a turn — not watery ; and they all 
agreed the dinner was satisfactory. 

Amaryllis remained out to help, and to hear 
about the Alstons’ call. 

‘‘It isn’t quite like our German,” Rilla ob- 
served, as she listened to Jetty’s guttural accents. 
“ I think what we learn in school is really pret- 
tier.” 


136 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ But I want to learn English ! declared Jetty 
fervently. “ Greta talks it splendid, but she 
goes to school every day.” 

“ You will soon learn, even if you don^t quite 
get the accent,” Rilla assured her, and exclaimed 
at sight of Jetty’s flashing needles : “ How fast 
you do knit I ” 

It’s for Cousin Fritzie,” confided Jetty. “ He’s 
such a nice boy, and learns so many things at 
school. My sister used to knit stockings, when 
we were little, and we used to make rag-carpet. 
What makes you laugh ? ” she inquired wonder- 
ingly, as Tip and Rhoda giggled. “ Oh, all the 
men wore out clothes. There wouldn’t be any- 
thing left. For they’d wear fur breeches over 
the rags,” continued Jetty reminiscently. “And 
it’s awful cold, though there were great forests 
that the men used to cut for wood. There the 
chimneys were wide, almost like a room. And 
the beds were like boxes piled up. Oh, yes, 
you’d get nice and warm. But some of the 
workmen used to sleep in the barn with skins 
over them. Oh, I never want to go back ! You 
are all so nice here, and it is not so cold. I want 
to work nice and be a good girl, so your mother 
will keep me.” 

“ I guess she will,” murmured Prim encour- 


GROWING UP 


137 

agingly. “ And now that the things are all put 
away, let us go into the play-room and talk to 
the others/^ 

Jetty was a little bashful at first. Linn tried 
to instruct her, and some of her words were so 
funny they couldn't help laughing. Before bed- 
time Chan played, and Jetty’s blue eyes were 
full of tender admiration as she clasped her 
hands. 

Surely Jetty was ambitious I Beside master- 
ing the cooking, she was ambitious to learn to 
read “ American.” When, one day, Mrs. Bach- 
man came over, she found everything satisfactory 
and Jetty almost beside herself with happiness. 

Then Mr. Gwynne came I There was a great 
deal to talk over. Chan’s voice was more sweet 
and tender, with a power in the higher notes. 

The engagement in New York would end in 
June ; Mr. Gwynne could not consent to a new 
one. They would do some traveling — per- 
haps go abroad for a few months. Besides, Mr. 
Gwynne wanted Marigold to have some special 
training. They were all doing very well in 
German, toward which Jetty proved admirable 
help. She was learning to sew as well, and was 
full of delight as the warm days came on when 
she wished to work in the garden. 


138 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

One Saturday, the older ones went over to 
spend the day with Cap. Mother Alston was 
delighted with them. Cap was bright and 
merry as a bird, and full of fun — a little jealous 
perhaps that Jetty was turning out so well. 

‘‘ Oh, you needn’t feel that we are going to 
like her best,” Prim assured Cap. “ Some things 
she can’t make taste quite as you did. But 
she’s so nice and clean, and that Mother likes. 
And she likes Dan. And she goes over to the 
old Red House once a week. She and Greta are 
such friends. And some of the children go over 
for her. But it is funny — she doesn’t get over 
that queer sort of German. Every now and then 
it pops out.” 

Meanwhile with the advent of spring, houses 
and grounds in Grafton seemed to be unusually 
flourishing. Meetings were held to discuss what 
the new church should be, and when another 
thousand was raised the decisive vote was given 
for stone. There were several new members 
who went into the project with enthusiasm. 
The chapel, when they were done with it, could 
be turned into a guild room. 

One of those serene spring evenings the chil- 
dren were in the library — Linn and Stuart Bradley 
playing chess, the others looking on or reading. 


GROWING UP 


139 

Stuart had played a good deal with his father, 
and Linn was taking a great interest in the game 
and meant to make a good player. Mrs. Mann 
sat sewing near by. Amaryllis was playing some 
plaintive old tunes on the piano. Mr. Evans 
stood by her side between her and the group in 
the adjoining room. Her sweet face had been 
moved by some tender songs that she often sang 
for her father. 

“ Rilla,” the minister began suddenly, using the 
familiar abbreviation. My little darling I I 
want you to awaken to the fact that I love you 
— that I want you for mine always — to share 
each other’s joys and sorrows, and the work God 
gives us to do. Can you love me in that 
fashion ? ” 

She raised her eyes in amazement, then her 
sweet face was flooded with scarlet, and her lips 
quivered. 

‘‘ Oh I ” she said with a soft sigh that trembled 
under her breath. 

“ I wanted you to know. I have thought of it 
so often. I promised your mother I would not 
speak while you were still such a child. But 
you have so many sweet womanly ways like 
your mother. Some other time you shall answer 
me, my sweet darling, when the truth is plainer 


140 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

to your innocent soul. But my love will never 
change.” 

Then he touched the keys with one hand. 
She rose in a blind sort of way. The clock struck 
ten. 

“You can’t finish that game to-night,” Mr. 
Mann’s voice was heard from the next room. 
“ Linn, you are a pretty good adversary. You 
learn rapidly.” 

“I’ve been studying some moves I saw in a 
paper, and I didn’t make any of them,” laughed 
Linn. 

“ You’re doing first-rate, Linn,” observed 
Stuart. “ I didn’t think you’d learn so rapidly. 
Can we keep the board just so ? ” 

“I’ll see that it is carefully treated,” said Mrs. 
Mann. 

The fathers of the two boys had said ten 
must be the leaving-off hour, except on special 
occasions. So they said a reluctant good-night. 
Mr. Evans followed suit and went with them. 

Presently the circle broke up, with numerous 
comments. Rilla stole quietly away with a 
simple good-night. Marigold told her she 
thought chess wasn’t so difficult after all, when 
one once knew the moves. 

Amaryllis said her simple prayer, asking bless- 



‘‘I 


PROMISED YOUR MOTHER I 
STILL SU( H A 


WOULD NOT SPEAK WHILE YOU 

CHILD .” — Page 139. 


WERE 





i 



GROWING UP 


141 

ings on the church and the clergyman, but to- 
night her thoughts faltered a little. Had she 
any special right to him ? Had he not asked her 
for a special right in herself ? Ah, how should 
she give it ? Elizabeth had spoken so freely of 
Mr. Rainsford ; but then, Elizabeth had known 
Mr. Rainsford years before, as the husband of her 
best friend. It seemed too curious to be so 
strangely happy now. It almost frightened 
simple Amaryllis. In the early evening they 
were merely good friends. Could a word and 
a look change so much ? 

Oh, she must be quiet and go to sleep, she 
thought, and wished her mother’s arms were 
round her. Oh, suppose she had no dear mother 
to smooth out tangles and tell her what was 
right — what would be most pleasing to God I 
For she did truly desire to serve God. 

School had been closed a fortnight. Amaryllis 
had done very well. The other two had entered 
the graduating class. Rilla was much interested 
in German and she had learned two or three of 
Chan’s songs. Chan had sung his last Sunday 
in church. After a week’s rest Mr. Gwynne was 
to take him away on a little journey. Ambitious 
Linn had found a four weeks’ position substitut- 
ing in a broker’s office during a clerk’s vacation. 


142 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

Prim and Goldie were going out to make a 
real visit with Cap. Mrs. Boyse was to take 
Amy, the little neighbor and playmate, and Laurel 
to a quiet seaside place where they could run 
and play in the sand. So the three girls were 
all on the way before noon. Tip, as usual on 
vacations, was going to try a little flying-ma- 
chine model. Rhoda was going to study up to 
see if she couldn’t step into the second division. 
That she was not a pretty child and that her hair 
would not curl did not trouble her a bit. 

Amaryllis, after a bit of luncheon, went up- 
stairs with her mother to look over last summer’s 
frocks. They had all grown so much every way, 
except pretty little Laurel, who still liked “ dess 
dolly ” and now dolly really had a pretty face, as 
Prim had improved so much in the manufacture 
of faces. 


CHAPTER VIII 


A LITTLE LOVE-MAKING 

“ There will be a good many frocks to give 
away this year/' said the mother. “And Mrs. 
Merrill will be glad to take some of them. She 
is getting along nicely and seems very bright and 
happy.” 

“Mother ” broke in Rilla suddenly, and 

then buried her head in her mother's lap. 
“ There is something ” 

“ My dear, I think I know what it is,” and 
Mother found a place to kiss on the flushed 
cheek. 

“ That Mr. Evans — oh. Mother ! ” 

“ Thinks about you — cares for you. I caught 
a glimpse of your secret last night. I knew his 
a year ago.” 

“ Mother I ” she raised her head in amazement. 

“ I knew you were not dreaming of it. He 
spoke to your father, and asked the right to 
come as a possible suitor when you were older, 
so that he — your father — would not misinterpret 
his interest as signs of a merely passing regard. 

143 


144 HOUSE CHILDREN 

Mr. Evans’s mind was made up even then. And 
Father was extremely annoyed.” 

‘‘ Why, he liked Mr. Evans I ” Amaryllis said 
in surprise. 

“ But he liked his daughter for himself. He 
thought the other girls would be married, but no 
one would think of sweet little Rilla who would be 
the comfort of his old age,” murmured her mother. 

“ Oh, Mother, I could, I could 1 Does Father 
care that way ? Then I would stay.” 

“You forget that I am here. If for any chance 
you did not marry, we should both be glad to 
have you. But it is right that young people 
should find their way to each other’s hearts while 
love is enchanting. The older ones die, and 
there are many lonesome years. Grandmother 
used to quote one sentence from the Bible, with 
a sweet kind of satisfaction, — ‘ And he set them 
in families.’ She was so pleased when the chil- 
dren were born, for she had only one. And she 
went to the other country before they all came. 
And there were hardships afterward and great 
sorrow, but the Lord gave us the oil of joy for 
mourning. There isn’t one that your second 
father would give up, and we have never had 
that sorrow yet. But he concluded afterward 
that with Mr. Evans you would not go away. 


GROWING UP 


H5 

Linn said he was a ‘ big brotherly kind of man/ 
And so it all blew over.” 

‘‘ Oh, I remember,” whispered Rilla ; ** about 
the time Miss Evans was married. We all won- 
dered what kept him away so much. We did 
miss him.” 

“ And I think Father was glad afterward, even 
if he should have to give his dear daughter 
away. You are not to be won away very soon. 
We shall have many happy days before that 
time. It is strange to you now, and you must 
not confuse the work that you love with your 
own lives. You are so young yet, and there will 
be many happy times with us all. I am glad to 
have this talk to-day before anything is really 
settled, and to have you know there will be no 
dissenting voices when the right time comes.” 

‘‘ Oh, Mother, if I could only be good enough,” 
murmured the girl. 

“ * God giveth liberally and upbraideth not.^ 
It is the way we ask of him — our earnestness 
and our faith. We go on learning by experience. 
And you are very young yet.” 

“ You don’t think I ought to go to the high 
school ? Think, Mother, I should be twenty when 
I was through. Miss Evans did not go and she 
is very intelligent and very happy, and she 


146 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

knows so many useful things. She has taught 
several classes in the parish, where they have 
been valuable branches. Besides, she has made 
her brother very happy. And Miss Golding, 
who has been half over the world and seen 
wonderful places, was almost shocked when I 
once suggested she should give some talks to us 
who had never traveled ; yet she stays there alone 
and gets really tired of herself. So it isn’t the 
knowing or seeing a good deal that shows one 
how to make most people happy.” 

“You have to adapt yourself to the people. 
There are a great many things for you to learn, 
dear, that you will hardly get at school,” re- 
sponded her mother. “ A happy, orderly home 
is one. It is like a little candle shedding its 
beams. No, for the next two years, perhaps, you 
may take me as a teacher and learn what is best. 
I felt quite discouraged with myself in the reign 
of incompetent girls. It seemed to me that I 
must be at fault. There is so much half-done 
work in the world ; but I do hope my girls will 
be thorough in what they undertake. But hadn’t 
we better pick up some of these things if we 
mean to take them to Mrs. Merrill ? ” 

Rilla selected several pretty dresses and Bon- 
nie was ready for a little jaunt. 


GROWING UP 


147 

They found the recipient of their gifts well and 
really happy. Her little boy was running round 
and talking in his fashion. Two of the girls 
were learning to sew and much interested. The 
garden was in very tidy order, and May Merrill 
had a pretty flower bed. They liked the Sunday- 
school so much, they said, and teased for 
Master Chandler to sing for them as he was 
going to be home. 

He will this Sunday,” agreed Mrs. Mann. 
“ Then he is going away with his dear friend and 
teacher. You see singing is to be his life busi- 
ness.” 

” And what a lovely business it will be I ” said 
May. April Merrill was rather shy, although she 
had the credit of being an excellent pupil at 
school. 

Why, the children will have almost a summer 
wardrobe,” rejoiced their mother. “ We certainly 
are very much indebted to you.” 

During their absence Dan had come home 
with the word that Cap was going to keep the 
girls all night, and would come down with them 
the next day. 

Why, what a small family we shall have 1 ” 
said Amaryllis. “ I don’t believe we ever had 
such a little lot before.” 


148 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

But all the Bradleys came over, and the chess- 
board came out undisturbed. Mr. Bradley was 
interested in the boys’ game at once. Rhoda 
was asking some questions about Russia. 

“ Were the Russians really wild people, and 
was it true that Peter the Great went to Holland 
to learn ship-building?” she asked. 

“ Yes, and some other things as well. He did 
not think that because he was a great emperor 
he knew it all. He was a wonderful man,” re- 
sponded Chan. 

‘‘ Rhoda, if you and Chan want to talk him 
over, go in the play-room,” interrupted Linn. 
** You confuse me.” 

“ O dear I ” and Rhoda flounced out, beckon- 
ing to Chan, who followed although he was 
deeply interested in the game. Chan was study- 
ing chess also, although he was afraid it would be 
like fractions, which he had not yet been able to 
master. 

The two mothers had a little stand to them- 
selves and were crocheting bead purses that had 
lately become a fad. Then Mr. Evans called, 
and after some general talk found his way over 
to Amaryllis. 

“ How odd it seems without Prim,” said Mrs. 
Bradley in a low tone. 


GROWING UP 


149 

“ Cap had Laurel and Amy first. They stayed 
three days, and had no end of a good time,’^ 
Mrs. Mann was explaining. “ Rhoda is a queer 
child. She takes up girls and then drops them 
unless they can tell her something she doesn’t 
know which she then has to look up to see if it is 
exactly so. She has a wonderful nr.emory for 
facts. She would have pleased Mr. Gradgrind, 
but it isn’t always pleasant to be corrected on 
some unimportant point.” 

“ Oh, children do outgrow a good many un- 
comfortable habits,” laughed Mrs. Bradley. 

There was a great exclamation, and Linn 
brought his fist down with a thump. 

“ Never mind, Linn,” said Mr. Bradley consol- 
ingly. “You have played a remarkable game 
for a beginner. Dick, you’ll have to look to 
your laurels.” 

“ I want to learn to play first-rate. I can’t 
fiddle, or astonish any one with my voice, and I 
must have some accomplishment in this family, 
unless I go to college.” 

“ That is quite a way off yet, but I’ll begin to 
save up money,” said his father laughing. 

I ought to be smart enough to work my way,” 
returned the boy. 


CHAPTER IX 


OF MANY THINGS 

Linn went to the position in Ridgewood. 

“ I can’t waste the whole eight weeks, and I’d 
like to get a little insight into business book- 
keeping. We take it up next year,” he an- 
nounced. 

It really was not very much business Linn 
found, although the bookkeeper was quite 
amazed at Linn’s quickness in figures. 

“ You have a head on your shoulders,” he said 
in a commendatory way. “I’d like to have you 
here. Why, you’d make a first-rate certified 
public accountant when you get through I ” 

“ Oh, thank you 1 ” and Linn took the compli- 
ment home to his father with a great deal of 
satisfaction. 

Prim and Marigold came home quite jubilant. 
They had put in every moment of the time — gone 
to tea with Mrs. Downs, Cap’s sister, and had two 
lovely drives, although the girls didn’t want to 
leave Mother Alston so much, as they enjoyed 

150 


GROfFING UP 


151 

telling her many interesting things about their 
old home, and how they came to get Jetty after 
that annoying time when their mother was quite 
discouraged. 

“ If this place hadn’t been so good, and they 
hadn’t treated me well, I’d come back,” had been 
Cap’s positive assertion. 

Oh, you would ! ” gasped Joe with a grin. 

‘‘ Country girls don’t go out to service no 
more,” Mother Alston lamented with a sigh. 
“ And now the talk is, they’re building a canning 
factory on the edge of Denby. That will take 
what the creamery left.” 

“ It’s high time there was something to wake 
up Denby,” Joe had commented dryly. 

“ But the elderly women can’t go into the 
creamery,” Primrose argued. “ They are not 
spry enough.” 

Then they must get ground over,” chuckled 

Joe. 

‘‘Well, maybe they wouldn’t take kindly to 
the process,” Cap put in. 

Mother Alston laughed at the suggestion, and 
admitted, “ I wouldn’t have minded it ten years 
ago.” 

“ Well, Denby is about the worst,” declared Joe. 
“ I don’t see how it managed to raise such a fine 


152 RED HO USE CHILDREN 

lot of children as you are. Here^s Chan on the 
high road to fortune.” 

“ He’s going away with Mr. Gwynne for 
several weeks,” Primrose informed them. 

“ Has Linn really gone to business ? ” Cap in- 
quired. 

“ Oh, no ; only while the clerk takes a vacation. 
He is going back to school,” explained Goldie 
proudly. “ Father wants him to go to college.” 

“ Will you go ? ” There was a little twinkle in 
Joe’s eye. 

“ No, my head’s two leaky for isms and 
ologies. I don’t love to study hard. Rhoda’ll be 
our college girl.” 

The Alstons had been loth to let the two girls 
go. Mother Alston petitioned for another day, 
and Cap had kept them until after supper, making 
them promise to come soon again, when they 
must bring Laurel. 

That is the reason they were quite late with 
their budget of news. The boys were at a new 
game of chess. Rilla and her father were walk- 
ing up and down the street. 

“ I wonder if you would feel very much dis- 
appointed if I didn’t go to the high school 
in the fall,” the girl said hesitatingly to her 
father. 


GROWING UP 


153 

** Oh, Rilla ! But Fve half guessed how it 
would be. I should lay the blame on your 
mother.” 

“ Father, Tm not very quick at learning — 
* at least, some things. I like housekeeping. 
And 

“ Yes, my little girl, your mother has told me 
your secret. It quite affronted me a year ago. 
But she has put it in a truer light. Now that I 
know how sweet and satisfying love can be. 
Heaven keep me from defrauding any tender 
soul. I thought you were likely to stay at home 
with us always, as if other men couldn’t see I ” 

“ Would you much rather ? And when you 
have been so good to us we ought to study your 
happiness,” she murmured, with a lingering 
emphasis. 

“ My little dear, you are studying it all the 
time. And it is right you should have love for 
your portion. I could not choose a better man 
nor one more suitable for you, since you are 
rather more serious than most girls. And we 
shall keep you near by and be taking an inter- 
est in your life, and you an interest in the girls. 
So I am ready to welcome Mr. Evans, but I want 
this year. You are still so young. And you 
will be learning other useful things. Since I 


1 54 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

have known your mother, I have realized what a 
happy home is like ; and it must have love for a 
foundation stone. Therefore, my child, do not 
feel afraid to give love or hesitate to take it in 
return. It is the choicest of life.” 

“ Oh, thank you, dear,” Rilla whispered. 

She pressed his hand to her soft cheek. 

“ So if there was a little feeling, it has all passed 
away. He will be like a brother to all of you, 
and we shall still be together in a way. Your 
mother can teach you many things pertaining to 
home duties and ways, and you must go on with 
your music. Oh, my child, we will be happy as 
we have been so far. But this year will still be- 
long to us in a way.” 

“ Oh, thank you a thousand times. You are 
the dearest of fathers,” responded the girl. 

“You children have taught me much. I 
have been glad to have you,” he concluded. 

There was a rush and exclamations enough 
for a half-dozen as Prim and Goldie entered. 
Prim said things in a breath, and then found 
there was still more to tell about Cap, and Joe, 
and the sweet little mother, and the funny father 
and the farm and the crops ! 

“ It ^most made me wish we had a farm,” said 
Goldie. 


GROWING UP 


I5S 

“That would be rather too big to wish for 
at Christmas time/^ Mr. Mann said humor- 
ously. 

“ I think I really don’t mean it, but Joe keeps 
his in nice order. And he has two such pretty 
calves that run to Cap the instant they see her,” 
Goldie went on exuberantly. “ And such lovely 
sweet corn. Cap’s got a fine husband; but 
then, he has a splendid wife.” 

The girls still found some new things to talk 
about the next day. 

“ And they are going to have a fine time at 
the farmers’ picnic, and Joe hopes our whole 
family will turn out, even though they are not 
farmers.” 

The girls had taken a walk and returned to 
the house where the boys were still intent on 
their game, but Prim rather interfered with her 
laughing comments. 

“What shall we do for vacation fun?” Prim 
began restlessly. “We never had such a dry 
sort of vacation.” 

“ Why,” returned her mother, “ you went 
down to the city one day shopping, another 
day with Mrs. Bradley to see the new pictures 
on exhibition at the Park, now you have had 
two days’ visit, and vacation is only half gone. 


156 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

Primrose, life is not made wholly for pleasure. 
There are your new frocks ; two skirts are to be 
shortened a little, unless you save them over for 
next summer, and confine yourself to the two 
now in wearing order. And you used to be 
quite industrious.’^ 

“Yes, when we made rag-carpets, knit stock- 
ings, and patched. Now we buy stockings be- 
cause they are cheap. We don’t make carpet- 
rags because we give away most of our old 
clothes. Now, Mother, it makes several people 
happy and saves their money when they haven’t 
very much. Would you like me to run an oppo- 
sition shop ? ” 

“ Oh, Prim, Greta Bachman has the prettiest 
rug in her room I ” put in Rilla. “ Her father 
had a good many blue and brown trimmings 
which she saved, cutting and sewing them into 
a rug; and now her room looks very attract- 
ive. Then her father bought an old bureau 
which he varnished up, and she has Rhoda’s 
little old rocker which she cushioned. Why, 
it looks so neat and nice — you can hardly 
think ! ” 

“Well — what can I cushion?” sighed Prim. 

“ You might make a new one for father’s arm- 
chair, — a tie-in, — then it can be washed.” 


GROWING UP 


^57 

■*What can I make it of? You gave away 
that cretonne to Mrs. Gates. Nothing stays in 
this house any more,” whined Prim. 

“ Go at your skirts, and rip out the hem that 
is just basted in,” suggested Mrs. Mann. 

Prim made a wry face, but she went at the 
task pleasantly. 

“ I wonder what Cap finds to do. There are 
twenty patchwork quilts in that house ; seven 
were made by the grandmothers, as well as two 
blue and white blankets. One is a hundred and 
twenty years old, and Joe’s great-grandmother 
spun and wove it. It is real pretty, too. And 
Cap has begun another quilt — for Phene, she 
says,” reflected Prim. 

** Cap is very industrious,” commented Mrs. 
Mann. 

But suppose Phene shouldn’t marry ? ” ob- 
served Prim. 

“ She may need something, in any event, to 
keep her warm on a cold winter' night,” re- 
sponded her mother. 

“ But I like those lovely soft woolen blankets,” 
observed Goldie. 

‘‘ Fashions change. I like the blankets my* 
self. But you couldn’t get them so easily years 
ago. We patched some of ours. Think what a 


158 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

treasure we considered old Aunt Hitty’s things/^ 
their mother reminded them. 

“ And Mrs. Gates and Miry made good use of 
them/^ Goldie added. 

“There, Mother, the hems are both out. Now 
if you will baste in the new ones,^^ exclaimed 
Prim, evidently relieved. 

The frocks were finished and hung up in the 
closet. Marigold had gone to her music, and 
Rhoda was studying. So Prim went out in the 
kitchen where Rilla was inducting Jetty into 
making what was called a poor man’s pud- 
ding. 

“ I’m going to marry a rich man,” announced 
Prim. “ Then I’ll give cooking lessons in some 
neighborhood house.” 

“ The people over there in Poland would think 
us very wasteful,” said Jetty. “They save 
everything for soup. Oh, I’m glad I came to 
America to live.” 

They no longer had to laugh at Jetty for say- 
ing “ Amerikee,” as at first. 

Then there was luncheon, after which Rilla 
and Goldie went out to make some calls. Vaca- 
tion days were long somehow. Prim languidly 
took up her drawing book and sketched faces — 
some were fine ; some were funny. 


GROWING UP 


159 

‘‘Cousin Jane is coming next week," Stuart 
announced as he passed the sitting-room. 

“ Oh, that’s fine ! Didn’t we have a lovely 
time at her reception?’’ exclaimed Prim, now 
quite animated. 

Miss Greatorex upon her arrival at Grafton 
wanted to hear what the Firth girls had been 
doing. There was all the church work to tell 
her about, and also there was the story of Mr. 
Bernstein’s visits, for he had been up once since 
his first visit and told them at length about his 
mother’s fine garden at home. 

Then Linn’s six weeks were up. He really was 
proud of the money he had earned. 

“ And I’ve learned a little, too,’’ he announced 
proudly. “ Mr. Watson thinks he’d rather have 
me than Gordon. I think Gordon isn’t bright 
to see into business points.’’ 

“ I hope you didn’t say anything disparaging 
about him?’’ observed Mr. Mann. 

“ No, I didn’t. Father. It was his position and 
he trusted me in it. I knew I was going back to 
school. And Gordon looks ever so much better. 
Mr. Watson said I must come around some 
night, and we would have a talk about bank- 
ing. He thinks we won’t get much of it this 
year.’’ 


i6o RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ Oh, listen to this ! ” exclaimed Mr. Mann in 
a voice of concern. “You remember young 
Disbrow ? 

“Yes,” answered several voices. 

“ And you, Linn, thought him quite intent on 
money-making?” continued Mr. Mann, glancing 
up from his paper. 

“ Well, listen to this. I don^t know that 
Disbrow was the most to blame, but he shouldn’t 
have yielded to the temptation. He and another 
clerk started a rather ingenious meddling with 
the mails— perhaps the older clerk had tried it 
before. And they were caught at it. Both were 
discharged, and of course they could have no 
recommendation. But neither one was prose- 
cuted. It seems the uncle made Disbrow’s 
shortage good, but he has lost his first situation, 
which is a bad thing.” 

“He used to relate sharp things the boys did. 
And he thought it a great thing to have plenty 
of money to spend. Fm going to save mine,” 
commented Linn. 

“ There may be a temptation on that side as 
well,” his father returned. “Honesty is the 
great thing after all. I am sorry for every boy 
who goes astray and throws away his reputa- 
tion.” 


GROWING UP i6i 

Here Stuart Bradley came in, eager to have 
a word with Linn. 

“ Father said I might ask you something. 
My holiday begins next week, Linn. The boys 
at Falconer Camp are having a grand time, and 
board is only six dollars a week. Fathers 
friend, Mr. Holly, has two boys there. He said 
I might go, and to ask you.^* 

Linn flushed, and responded hesitatingly, 
“ Oh, I thought rd walk five miles a day and 
swim some to keep my hand in — or my whole 
body. I havenT worked very hard, and it’s 
quite a bit of money. Think what Chan is 
making ! ” 

“ Oh, Linn, don’t get stingy in your early 
youth,” cried Marigold. 

‘‘ It would be very nice, of course. And I’d 
like first-rate to go with you, Stuart, but I had 
such a nice time last summer. And I want to 
take an advanced standing. I’m very well and 
I have grown a good bit this year. Oh, I 
guess I’ll do,” concluded Linn. 

“ Come on with the game.” 

Linn didn’t play chess very well after that con- 
versation, and he kept flushing. But he could 
change his mind. He had heard about the 
good times at the camp, so pleasantly situated 


i 62 red house children 


on the banks of a pretty river. He had been 
out swimming some through the summer and 
had not forgotten how. But to be with a lot of 
merry boys! One week wouldn^t cost much ; 
and when Stuart went away and left a badly 
beaten boy behind, he said : 

“ Oh, reconsider, Linn. One week^s board 
wouldn’t be much. We have such good times 
together.” 

“ I don’t see how you could refuse,” said 
Primrose. “ Saving isn’t everything. And boys 
have such fun in camps.” 

“Well, it came out really before I thought. 
All the while I’d made up my mind to this. It 
was a shame to refuse Stuart, too. And after 
all it is only such a little to save. I may recon- 
sider,” mused Linn. 

“ What a shame about that Disbrow boy 1 ” 
declared Prim. “ Oh, Linn, I’d rather have you 
a miser than do anything like that.” 

“ I hope you boys will grow up strictly honest,” 
said their mother. “ Don’t take the first step, 
and then you will always be safe.” 

“ Most excellent reasoning,” said Prim with 
decision. 

Linn went off the next day to a ball game, as 
he felt he was a little rusty. Then he walked his 


GROWING UP 163 

five miles and came home with a first-class 
appetite. 

“ Here is another invitation,” announced his 
father the next day. “Mr. Collamore was in. 
You know he has talked about wanting all you 
children to see his beautiful place, but it seemed 
as if something had always prevented. And 
now it has happened again, and that is why this 
invitation has to be hurried up. Mrs. Collamore 
has decided to go abroad, — to Paris mostly, — at 
least that will be her headquarters, and she will 
take the three little ones and two nurses. And 
Mr. Collamore has a chance at a railroad in Russia 
where a friend is very anxious for him to join 
forces. He can rent his beautiful place to an 
excellent advantage. He thinks his wife is very 
desirous of a change. She is of course much 
engrossed with preparations, but wants your 
mother to come up with all the children, even 
Tip. So we must consider. It will be the time 
of our lives. Pd like to see one of these splendid 
estates with miles of flowers.” 

“ Oh, think of it ! Yet somehow we’re happy 
too, strange to relate,” exclaimed Primrose. 

“We must go Tuesday or the day after. 
Then Mrs. Collamore will be packing up. And 
Mr. Collamore is going to send most of his valu- 


1 64 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

able pictures down to New York to a fire-proof 
storage and a good deal of the clothing they are 
likely to want later. He is very much in earnest 
about our coming, and joins Mrs. Collamore in 
sending cordial messages. I think we had better 
go.” 

“ Oh, what a crowd ! ” exulted Tip. 

** There will be two autos. Mr. Collamore 
will take one abroad. He is going to Russia 
as soon as he settles the family.” 

** But where will Harry be?” asked Linn. 

He has a year more in the law school,” re- 
sponded their father. “ Then he is to go into a 
well-known law firm in the city. But you see 
his father will be back and forthj and keep in 
touch with them all. He will have his head- 
quarters at some hotel in New York.” 

“ Oh, did we think when the box of books and 
things came for us we should ever know any 
such rich people ? ” inquired Primrose. “ Chan 
ought to be here.” 

So they accepted the invitation, although 
Bessy shrank in a kind of dismay. It was as 
Amaryllis had said, you couldn’t seem to get 
near to Mrs. Collamore, although she was 
affable and courteous. But they might not see 
her again for years. 


GROWING UP 165 

The big touring-car took most of them in to 
Clarendon. Mr. Collamore, Mr. Mann, and Tip 
were in the other. Oh, what a ride it was after 
they started, and were fairly out of sight of the 
city I Other beautiful cities, and parks, and 
country places. Mr. Mann had never seen so 
much beauty and diversity in his life. Then 
long stretches of country where the machine 
seemed to fly. Castle-like buildings ; grounds 
that were marvels; then pleasure parties, when 
they slowed up a little. But it seemed as if 
they could not take half of it in. 

It was almost noon when they reached Claren- 
don, which was like a beautiful park interspersed 
with various kinds of architecture as they drew 
nearer the house, surrounded by beds of gor- 
geous flowers, winding walks, groups of beautiful 
trees, and open spaces of flowers and walks again. 
The house seemed rambling, and yet had an 
artistic effect with its beautiful windows and 
vine-covered porches. 

“ I feel as if I had been whirled through space,” 
declared Marigold. “ Why, it is almost a village 
by itself, or a big hotel.” 

Then they were helped to alight, and Mrs. 
Collamore received them in a cordial but rather 
formal society manner. Her family were very 


1 66 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

much upset by the packing and sending away 
of many things. The children and the two 
nurses had gone yesterday, and the hostess was 
to join them on Saturday. She was sorry she 
could not have invited her Grafton friends for a 
longer stay, but had been making many farewell 
visits this summer, for she should not be back in 
several years. Mrs. Collamore said she hoped 
some of the young ladies would take a journey 
abroad, and that Mr. Collamore would keep in 
touch with them, as he would be flying around, 
while she would spend the winter in Paris. She 
had many friends in London also. In fact there 
were American colonies forming almost every- 
where. 

After the first greetings, the hostess sent a 
maid up-stairs with the ladies and informed them 
that soon lunch would be ready. It was such a 
long journey ; did they not find it very tiresome ; 
and oh, what a beautiful child this little one was, 
the hostess exclaimed. 

“That’s Laurel,” said Tip, who thought the 
explanation ought to begin as to the identities 
of the eight. 

The guests washed off the dust, and brushed 
a little, and filed down-stairs in a procession. 
The dining-room might, from its pretentious ap- 


GROWING UP 


167 

pearance, have been prepared for a party. Some- 
how, no one was hungry although there was 
enough for a feast. 

“ It seemed like something out of a novel of 
high life,** said Primrose afterward. ‘‘ Such 
delicious things to eat, and such service — and 
the flowers, and the silver, and china ! I didn't 
know the names of half the things, but you 
didn’t have to ask. You had only to say ‘ No, 
thank you,* or ‘ If you please ; ’ and things were 
so queer that you could hardly tell what you were 
eating." 

Mr. Collamore was a charming host, and Ama- 
ryllis felt really proud of her father. Her mother 
was very ladylike in a quiet way. Mrs; Collamore 
talked a good deal about the hardships and trials 
of getting ready for such a journey, with young 
children to care for and so much to pack up in 
the house. How they would have done if they 
were not going to leave it partly furnished with 
the larger pieces of furniture she could not 
imagine. A great house like this was a tremen- 
dous care, she informed her guests ; of course 
one could have gardeners, servants, and stable 
men, but one had to keep tally on everything, 
and half the time one doesn’t know what one has ! 

** You people, who live in a simple fashion, are 


i68 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


really to be envied/’ she sighed. “ Only we get 
in a sort of current, and seem pushed on whether 
or no. And there are many people you don’t 
really care for ; they are pushing in all the time, 
— coming up from the lower round, one might 
say, because they have made money. They 
manage these matters better abroad, where one 
keeps one’s place.” 

“ I think it must wear one out to be in fashion- 
able life,” said Bessy with quiet dignity, “ and 
how can any one have real friendships with peo- 
ple, when coming and going continually ? ” 

“ Oh, you don’t expect that,” returned the 
hostess airily. “ It is the variety that entertains. 
You don’t expect to go down very deep ; indeed 
I think the great majority have not much depth 
to them. You just skim over the surface,” re- 
turned the hostess gaily, but added more 
earnestly, ‘‘ I hope my girls will be attractive. 
Primrose is sure to be, she has such a fine com- 
plexion. What do you do to keep it so very 
fair?” 

“ Only wash it clean,” was Primrose’s abrupt 
but laughing rejoinder. 

When they rose from the table, Mrs. Collamore 
said to her husband : 

“ Now you had better take your friends around 


GROWING UP 


169 

the estate. It is beautiful. If we only had it in 
England, and a title went with it ! I don^t 
wonder American women long for titles, for they 
are a source of dignity.” 

Mr. Collamore frowned a little, and asked the 
guests to get ready. 

“ And you must excuse me,” his wife put in. 

I have so much to oversee. If it wasn’t for the 
sea voyage, I should xiever get rested.” 

So they crowded into the big touring-car, 
superlatively beautiful. After the barns and 
stables had been passed, on the tour of inspec- 
tion, there were no houses in sight. 

“ I should get lonesome,” murmured Marigold 
in an undertone. “ I don’t wonder these grand 
folks want guests all the time for steady com- 
pany. I like Ridgewood and Grafton best, and 
trips to New York thrown in.” 

And oh, folks ! ” declared Primrose. ‘‘ And 
some poor people with their troubles. I believe I 
don’t want to be rolling in wealth.” 

‘‘ I am glad you do not,” responded her father. 
‘‘ It is a good thing to be content.” 

“ And have some fun,” murmured Marigold. 

Amaryllis was thinking of the new church and 
how much happy work there was to do. Was it 
true that love was to be the guiding star of her 


I/O RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

life ? Somehow she could hardly believe it. As 
if there had not been love all along ! But this 
was so wonderful, that she should be chosen. 
And she sat and dreamed as the panorama passed 
before her eyes, reminding her of “ Sweet fields 
stand dressed in living green ! ’’ But after all, 
she reflected, was it not heaven wherever God 
reigned ? 

When they returned, it was time to start on 
the long homeward journey. They were enthu- 
siastic in their thanks and enjoyment, and good 
wishes for Mrs. Collamore’s happy journey. If 
the girls ever took the journey abroad they must 
be sure to let her know, Mrs. Collamore insisted, 
and wished now that it could have been different, 
so that her guests could have made a longer stay. 

It was very sweet of her to give them that 
lovely time in this beautiful place, they said with 
thanks. 


CHAPTER X 


A JOYOUS CHRISTMAS 

It was a long ride, and tired and sleepy, they 
were glad to step out on solid ground. The chil- 
dren had begun an enthusiastic talk at first, but it 
had dwindled, the voices growing slow and sleepy. 
Even Rhoda leaned her head down on Goldie’s 
shoulder. Laurel rested on her father’s shoulder, 
and Tip on Laurel’s. It seemed weird as dark- 
ness began to fall, when, on the safe stretches of 
the road, they sped like the wind. There were 
the lights of Ridgewood — Grafton — home, and it 
seemed for a few moments as if they were stiff. 

“ I think I’ve had enough autoing for a life- 
time,” said Mr. Mann, dropping his burdens on 
the ground, and then added to the chauffeur. 

You are not going back to-night?” 

“ Oh, no ; just down to the city. It has been 
a long ride but the best we could do. I hope 
you get rested,” the man returned. 

Oh, how cozy and cheerful the lighted house 
looked ! Tip cried a little, and dropped down 
on the sofa again, he was so very tired. 

“ Well, I believe I wouldn’t have missed it. 

171 


172 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

It is certainly a splendid estate. If we had only 
seen ” yawned Prim. 

“ Do you suppose Harry will go over with 
them?” Linn interposed. 

“ No,” said Mr. Mann. “ I think he is a little 
out of favor with his father.” 

‘‘ Well, I don^t want to be as rich as that. And 
somehow Fm sorry for Mr. Collamore,” com- 
mented Mr. Mann. “ He is such a nice man, 
too, and so jolly. He was so splendid that day 
at the Bronx. But I suppose just now he has 
the weight of Atlas on his shoulders. And he 
isn’t quite sure he wants the Russian railroad. 
But I do like him ever so much.” 

“ And now you see riches can’t make people 
happy,” said Prim with a droll intonation. 

“ Too much or too little. The golden mean,” 
said Amaryllis. 

“ Jetty, make us some fresh tea,” said the 
mother, “and not very strong; and bring in 
plenty of milk.” 

The tea and the milk were refreshing, but the 
children were too tired to eat. Linn took Tip 
up-stairs, and Rilla attended to the twins. The 
others took the easy chairs in the library, and 
rested. They were too exhausted to talk, and 
presently all went to bed. 


GROWING UP 


173 

But they were pretty bright the next morning, 
and could talk of the wonderful place. 

“Though I don’t see the use of having so 
many things duplicated,” declared Primrose. 
“ Think of those long rows of gladioli ! Every 
color that could be imagined. And so many 
other things in the wildest profusion. I like the 
roses. There was a man cutting off those haws 
— I believe they are called. Why, it must take 
him days and days ; and what can they do with 
the flowers? They are a long distance from 
hospitals. The flowers just live and die. Our 
hosts had a great June party up there, I heard 
one of the gardeners say, when the house was 
completely trimmed with roses, — and it is so 
large, too.” 

“Well, it does seem a waste. It isn’t the 
greatest good to the greatest number,” agreed 
Amaryllis. 

“ I don’t think Mr. Collamore looked really 
happy. But there must be so many things on 
his mind. Last winter they shut up the house 
but retained the servants. Think what that 
costs, even. No, I am not going to be that kind 
of rich man I ” declared Linn. 

“And Harry must have graduated,” put in 
Primrose. 


174 red house children 

“ Well, there^s been something between them,” 
said Mr. Mann. “ Oh, I hope we children will 
go on being good friends. When you have 
anything against me, you must come and tell me 
of it, and let us explain.” 

“We never shall have. And you are the one 
to point out faults. As Prim says, ‘You are 
the best of fathers,^ ” declared Linn. 

The father looked up at Bessy and smiled. 

“ Father,” began Linn, “ I felt sorry that I 
refused to go to camp with Stuart. I suppose I 
should have reconsidered, but this invitation 
coming, it seemed best at the moment to accept 
it. Stuart will stay only a week. Do you 
suppose they would take me in for half a week ? ” 

“ They take visitors and friends for a dollar a 
day.” 

“ Then I think I shall go. I can send a tele- 
gram and follow it. Stuart was disappointed,” 
concluded Linn. 

“I am glad to have you go,” said Amaryllis. 
“ I really did regret that you declined that way.” 

“I liked to think I had earned the money,” 
observed her brother. 

Now the older children had half a dollar a 
week for spending money. Bessy insisted that 
that was enough. 


GROWING UP 


^7S 

Linn sent his telegram, and found there was 
room for him. The girls went over to Mrs. 
Bradley’s to see Miss Greatorex, who was sur- 
prised to find Primrose such a tall girl. Her 
hair was shedding its yellow tint and would be a 
pretty, golden brown. There was so much to 
talk about ; Miss Greatorex had been having a 
very successful year, and inquired eagerly if 
Prim and one other of the girls could come down 
for the Christmas holidays. 

“We have a nice, funny girl now, although 
not like Cap ; and Cap is fine as well as her 
husband. And she makes it lovely for his 
mother — takes her out driving, and makes a real 
own mother of her. And I guess Abe, her old 
beau, is sorry enough he didn’t hold on to her, 
for the other man, his partner, married and the 
wife managed to get Abe out, and now he’s back 
at the creamery. Cap may give thanks that she 
did not keep to him,” ran on Goldie in an effort 
to give all the news, especially of Cap, about 
whom she was ever unusually loquacious. 

“ Have you dropped your drawing, Primrose? ” 
Miss Greatorex inquired eagerly. 

“ Oh, no indeed ! But I don’t care so much 
for the ridiculous things. I have some very nice 
faces and children’s heads. I did Mrs. Craw- 


176 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

ford’s little girl, and the mother thinks it very 
good. But it is odd, I can’t make portraits 
easily. I can draw from my mind’s-eye, and 
although the result won’t resemble anybody, it 
will be a good picture. And I have done quite 
well at school,” Primrose explained. “ But you 
can’t imagine how well Amaryllis plays; and 
she thought she could never master the piano. 
She has that soft sweet touch, like Chan’s. 
Goldie is taking lessons of the Signor ; and we 
are all studying languages. We have a new 
friend, a Mr. Bernstein that 1 wrote you about. 
He’s quite old — that is, not a young man. He 
begged Mother to bring us in when she came 
down, and let us see the beautiful laces — whole 
dresses — and when I get paid for a picture, I 
mean to buy one, they are so lovely I I think 
he’s taken a great fancy to Rilla ; they talk 
German together. And Rilla’s studying Italian 
with Chan — when she has him ; and Linn ham- 
mers some Latin into her. Why, w« are going 
to be quite accomplished I ” 

“ You didn’t graduate ? ” 

“Not quite. Both of us will next year,” ex- 
plained Primrose. “ But you ought to know 
Rhoda — she’s going to be the college girl ; and 
Laurel, the beauty. It’s funny, but she clings to 


GROWING UP 


177 

her old rag doll yet, on which I keep putting 
new faces. She didn’t get into the grammar 
school this year; neither did Amy Boyse, her 
chum. Lai doesn’t like changes, but she’s sweet 
as sugar.” 

The girls made an arrangement to take Miss 
Greatorex out driving, after which she must also 
come to dinner. They were getting along very 
nicely with Jetty, Rhoda reassured her, although 
Jetty wasn’t Cap, and still had a great many of 
the German ways. 

They had a lovely drive, and there was a 
warm welcome for Miss Greatorex. The Bradley 
family would be over in the evening. Stuart was 
enjoying himself wonderfully, but wished for 
Linn. 

And it is a coincidence that he will have his 
wish so soon,” observed Linn, and greeted their 
guest with, “Oh, Miss Greatorex, I just wish you 
could see that Collamore place, and the things 
that are on it, and in it. Still I’d much rather 
live near a city. But I think one of the most 
touching things is the way Mr. Collamore keeps 
little Arthur’s pretty room where you couldn’t 
miss even all the things he sent Chan. It seems 
as if we must have known him. He was a pretty 
little fellow, when he was well. Harry too is 


178 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

handsome. Fd like to know about their mother, 
and whether she liked the grand home.” 

“ It seems to me that most rich people fail to 
get true enjoyment out of life,” returned Miss 
Greatorex, and added, laughing, “Not that I 
believe poverty is the great panacea.” 

“ ‘ Agur’s Prayer,’ ” added Marigold. “ Fd 
like to give Grafton the pretty stone church the 
congregation talks about, Mr. Evans has two 
beautiful plans — one will cost forty thousand 
dollars, and that we can’t have.” 

“ It doesn’t seem that Grafton wants quite such 
an ornate church,” commented their caller. 

“The other plan is much plainer and quite 
reverential. That suits Chan,” put in Goldie. 

“ And he is doing fine in the West. He had a 
part in an oratorio, and the paper said his voice 
was remarkable,” added Prim. “ Now, Miss 
Greatorex, here are my best pictures ! I burned 
up a lot the other day.” 

“ Oh, Primrose ! ” cried her friend at Prim’s 
display. 

“ Well, you see a thing comes into my mind, 
and I drop down and sketch it out on my knee. 
Sometimes I make it in a real picture — some- 
times not,” explained the young artist. 

There were some fine, spirited sketches. 


GROWING UP 


179 

Hide-and-Seek ” was a lovely child’s face peer- 
ing from behind a barrel, half hidden by shrub- 
bery. 

“ Now, there is the study of the face, and here 
is my copy. They look about as much alike as 
chalk and cheese, as old people say ; and here 
she is as she suits me, — the copy from my brain.” 

“ Why, Primrose, this is really beautiful. So 
that is your idea of the study I ” Miss Greatorex 
exclaimed. 

“No, that is what / liked — a kind of thought. 
I can’t copy. Oh, you ought to see the trees I 
used to make after the drawing lessons. They 
were things that never grew. I can’t do foliage 
well any more than I can carry a tune. And you 
can’t make any one do what isn’t in her or his 
brain.” 

Miss Greatorex laughed. 

“ I want to take these three back with me. 
Primrose, you have genius, although it is de- 
veloped out of the ordinary lines.” 

“And here is one of Jetty,” laughed Prim. 
“ Mr. Bernstein said it was a Russian- Polish- 
Siberian girl. But Jetty is getting rapidly 
Americanized. Her nose is growing longer.” 

Mr. Mann came home just then. Miss Great- 
orex was urged to go out with him to see the 


i8o RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


peaches and the late roses. Laurel and Amy 
had been in the swing, but in a minute Laurel 
was in her father’s arms. 

“ How little she stays,” said Miss Greatorex, 
“ but she grows prettier.” 

“ We ought to have one family beauty,” mur- 
mured Rhoda. 

They missed Chan and Linn from the circle. 
But the next day an interesting long letter came 
from both boys. And there were so many drives 
about for the visitor and so many funny incidents 
to relate. 

Mr. Mann’s porch had become a kind of meet- 
ing place for the gentlemen of the neighborhood. 
Mr. Evans was often there, when the talk ran 
largely on church matters. They must decide, 
so they could begin with the foundation and get 
it well under way before cold weather. 

The Bradleys and their friends regretted that 
Miss Greatorex was going up to. Lake Cham- 
plain to visit some cousins, and to get some new 
ideas of light and shade. The Morelands, her 
friends, had gone abroad for a year or two. 

“Thetis Moreland isn’t going to be quite so 
beautiful as her father hoped,” Miss Greatorex 
told Prim and Rilla. “The girls do change so 
in their growing years, but I think they will 


GROWING UP 


i8i 


keep their lovely complexions. And, Primrose, 
I want you to come down at Christmastide ; 
Marigold, too, if she can be spared.” 

Well, that is nice to have some plans ahead,” 
cried Prim jubilantly. “What a time we did have 
that week ! And your reception was just grand I 
Oh, there isn^t anything like having a good 
time!” 

Prim had a vivid recollection of a week in 
New York, told of in the “ Red House Children's 
Year.” 

“ And yet, you finally grow out of those good 
times,” said Miss Greatorex. 

“I’m not going to,” returned Prim. “I’m 
just going to have fun all alone. Why, if I 
couldn’t laugh, the world would get blue- 
mouldy.” 

During the remainder of vacation, there was 
a good deal to do — shopping and planning. 

“ Now, if we could wear one dress all the year 
round,” sighed Prim. 

“Oh, Prim! Yours would be a thing of 
shreds and patches ! ” her mother returned. 

Last winter’s frocks were all outgrown. 

“ Where are you going to stop ? ” said the 
little mother. “You take after your own father. 
I think Linn as well will be tall. It does play 


i 82 red house children 


havoc with clothes, but oddly enough, Rhoda 
has spoken for that green and blue plaid with 
the gold thread in it, but she wants it saved for 
another winter, so the girls at school will not be 
so likely to recall it/^ 

Upon the approach of school days, the two 
girls went down to New York with their mother. 
Mr. Bernstein asked them out to lunch, where 
they had quite a merry time. He said he was 
very sorry his house did not deal in furs and 
wraps, so that the girls could come to trade with 
him; but if they were debutantes this winter, 
they might have lace overskirts caught up at 
the side with a handsome rhinestone clasp (as 
they were too young to indulge in diamonds). 
And he was coming up to see Chan as soon as 
the boy would be at home. 

And oh, what a welcome the boy had I Why, 
he had grown past Amaryllis, and was certainly 
fine-looking, although he was tired and rather 
pale. And Linn, who returned the same day, 
was so rosy ! The camp had been splendid. 

“Yes,” he exclaimed, “ I can swim like a fish, 
and can sprint ” 

“But what is sprinting?” Tip interrupted. 

“Why, it is running short races as fast as you 
can,” replied Linn. 


GROWING UP 183 

“ Prim can do that. She’s not elastic in her 
legs,” returned Tip. 

The gifted young lady turned very red at that 
praise. 

In council that evening, Mr. and Mrs. Mann 
decided it was better for Amaryllis to enter the 
high school, and so avoid the curiosity which her 
absence might arouse. Through the course of the 
winter the engagement might be announced. 
Mr. Evans was pleading for a lover’s privileges. 
Amaryllis had told only Elizabeth, who, with 
Mr. Rainsford, sent her the warmest congratula- 
tions. 

“I’ve always hoped for this,” wrote Elizabeth. 
“You seemed so suited to each other. You 
were such a serious-minded girl, thinking what 
could be done for others, and really religious, 
without any fuss. I think you must have been 
born so. You win a person’s love unaware. I 
know you will be very happy with Roger, and 
that you will make the same happy home your 
mother has made. I often thought of this in 
connection with you: ‘Whatsoever thy hand 
findeth to do.’ You will both enjoy the pretty 
new church, and do your best work in it. I am 
glad so many nice people are coming in.” 

Rilla hugged the letter to her heart. “To be 


1 84 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

fulfilled of all beauty and pleasance,” ran through 
her mind. 

So they all trooped off to school again. The 
congregation in New York wanted Chan back 
in the church, but Mr. Gwynne decided the boy 
was not to try his voice very much this winter, 
but that he might sing in the little old chapel. 
Mr. Gwynne had met a lady who had once been 
a famous opera singer, now retired, but who 
understood the science wonderfully, and was 
delighted to have Chan for a pupil. Marigold 
was going to the Signor. Madame Hainsky, 
Mr. Gwynne’s new acquaintance, had said Goldie 
would make a fine church singer, if she would 
not care to take up other lines. 

The little mother rather demurred, and pleaded, 
“ My Goldie is such a nice domestic girl.” 

‘‘ And she may marry, and her husband might 
die and leave her with a family,” the singer had 
argued, earnestly. “She will have some nice 
way of caring for them. Fd like to give her the 
musical course at Columbia. I consider it much 
better than an M. D.” 

Mrs. Mann laughed at that, and replied, “I 
can’t imagine such an unsuitable degree. Why, 
Goldie couldn’t kill a mouse.” 

“ Well, you know I said I would try to plan so 


GROWING UP 


i8s 

that they might be able to care for themselves 
in case of any misfortune,” Mr. Mann had rea- 
soned; “and if they can follow out the thing they 
are best fitted for, they will be happier and more 
successful, I think. I can’t fancy our dear Rilla 
filling any place as well and happily as that of a 
clergyman’s wife.” 

The first of the flock to go ! 

When Primrose spoke of Miss Greatorex’s invi- 
tation, her father said gravely : 

“ I want you all at home on Christmas day. 
After that, you may choose whatever you care 
for.” 

“ But what is there going to be?” asked Prim- 
rose. 

“ A big turkey for one thing, and some friends 
in the evening. I want you all at home. We 
can’t tell what may happen next year.” 

“ Oh, I suppose Chan will be in Paris. None 
of the rest are quite in such demand,” sighed 
Primrose. 

Another Christmas in their happy new home ! 
There were plenty of Christmas gifts, although 
they didn’t hang up stockings and wish for 
things. They couldn’t help laughing about their 
first Christmas in the house, when they all 
dressed up again in bridal array. 


1 86 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


Greta Bachman was coming over to wait upon 
the table. The big turkey had been sent in by 
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Alston with compliments and 
with regrets that they could not be present, but 
must have a Christmas feast of their own. 

Amaryllis came down in her white serge frock, 
a small bunch of rosebuds at her throat, her arm 
in that of Mr. Evans. Every one was standing 
up, wondering a little. 

“Children,^’ began Mr. Mann, ‘‘this is to 
announce to you the engagement of your 
sister Amaryllis to the Reverend Roger Evans. 
Mother and I have a Christmas gift of a new 
son ; all of you a new brother. I think he gets 
the greater share of relatives, but he has the 
fewer to begin with. I hope we shall always 
live in amity ; and we give him a hearty wel- 
come, with our dear daughter — in both giving 
and receiving a Christmas offering that we hope 
will always bring with it a crown of joy ! ” 

Mr. Evans turned and kissed his betrothed ; 
then her mother and father kissed Rilla ; after 
which the children nearly strangled their blush- 
ing sister in their exuberance. 

“ I couldn’t welcome any one I liked better,” 
said Linn in a hearty tone, bowing to the young 
couple. 


GROWING UP 


187 


Chan rose, a smile on his sweet face. 

“ I wish you a very happy life,” he said. “ Mr. 
Evans will always be very dear to me. He was 
the first to ask me to sing that beautiful Christ- 
mas anthem in church, which I have repeated 
many times — never without thinking of the little 
church, and I am proud and happy to call him my 
brother. And my dear lovep as you all know, my 
sponsor in musical life, is Mr. Gwynne. I did 
have a little half-dream that our Rilla might 
one day become dear to him, but I think she has 
chosen the life that is more congenial. Heaven 
send you its choicest blessings.” 

‘‘Thank you. Chandler. You will always be 
very dear to us,” returned Mr. Evans. 

“ Oh, what can the rest of us say ? ” cried Prim- 
rose. “We all like you and are glad to have you, 
and in a way Rilla will remain near to us. This 
will be next to the most blessed Christmas in 
our lives. The first was when Father came into 
it,” and she threw the beaming stepfather a kiss. 

“The banquet waits,” announced Mr. Mann, 
with a smile that made the cherished dimple 
deeper. 

They were very merry. Prim making some 
funny verses expressive of their surprise. The 
turkey was splendid. They wished for Cap, and 


1 88 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


talked over the amusing times they had enjoyed 
with her. The feast lasted a long time, and it 
was the hour for lights when they withdrew to 
the parlor. Then the mother announced that 
she had invited a few particular friends to enjoy 
the betrothal. 

It was indeed some of the dearest friends, who 
were really surprised, but quite delighted. Mrs. 
Mann had requested that there should be no 
gift giving. Poor Amaryllis was well-nigh over- 
come by the truly heartfelt wishes. 

Mrs. Brenner was genuinely delighted. Mr. 
Evans had always seemed a part of Mr. Mann’s 
family, she said. 

It was a little strange that Amaryllis could rise 
to the occasion. She had, however, improved 
much in dignity the last year ; as the oldest girl 
in the family, she had taken considerable of the 
care upon herself, and been her mother’s com- 
panion, growing in wisdom and pretty ways, 
while trusting more and more in the sweet 
promises held out in her little “ daily food.” 
She had not asked for any love, nor dreamed nor 
desired it, until it had come one night as a 
revelation ; and then, if it truly was for her, it 
would be made plain. She would not look for 
such a blessed happy life in the things she loved 


GROWING UP 189 

unless she knew God willed it for her, she reflected 
that evening. 

And then a singular thing occurred : they had 
been singing some of the loveliest Christmas 
carols, when there seemed to come an echo from 
outside. Linn sprang up, and went to the hall 
door. 

“ Merry Christmas ! sang out boys^ voices, 
Fred Austin’s leading. “ We’ve been looking for 
Linn. We’ve been around serenading. Mr. 
Evans was talking about the Noel at the Christ- 
mas tree and we thought — oh ! ” 

“ Come in, boys,” said Linn, as Fred broke off. 
“ We were just having a little company. I 
think you know them all. And your mother is 
here, Fred.” 

“ And we were just going to wish you Merry 
Christmas. We have two more people to find,” 
explained Fred. “ The rectory was dark when 
we came by, but we must find Mr. Evans and 
give him Noeir 

“ He is here,” said Chan. ** Come and sing it 
with the piano.” 

“ Shall we not intrude ? ” 

‘‘ No,” said Mr. Mann. “ A serenade just 
seems to complete the day appropriately. And 
I hope you have all had a fine time.” 


190 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ That we have 1 Boys, let us sing ‘ Wonder- 
ful Night/ ” 

How enchanting the voices in the beautiful 
hymn, with Chan for a leader I They would not 
stay, however, although Mrs. Mann proposed 
some refreshments. 

“ Well, we did do it that time ! ” said one of 
the boys. “ And didn’t Amaryllis Firth look 
lovely? There was something about her. She’s 
good enough for a minister’s wife.” 

These boys heard a few days afterward Ama- 
ryllis was going to be their minister’s wife. 

Eventually, the company said good-night. 
Truly, it had been a lovely Christmas surprise, 
ending with much wishing of joy. 


CHAPTER XI 


AFTERWARD 

** 1 DON*T see how you could keep it, Rilla,” 
declared Goldie. 

“ But it wasn’t an engagement,” observed 
Amaryllis ; “ and Father didn’t consent until just 
lately.” 

“ But it’s just splendid 1 And that is why you 
wouldn’t join the dancing class ? Do you think 
it wrong ? ” 

“ It wouldn’t be right for me. Don’t you 
know what St. Paul said about things being 
‘ right but not expedient ’ ? ” 

“ Well, I want to dance,” and Prim pirouetted 
around the room. “It was a splendid Christ- 
mas I Father Mann does do the loveliest things. 
I don’t believe Mrs. Collamore was a bit happier. 
And the boys coming in to give Mr. Evans 
Noel ! I think caroling such a lovely custom in 
country places.” 

“ Oh, we must go to bed,” announced Ama- 
ryllis. 

191 


192 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

They had to talk it over the next morning to 
make it seem true. Greta Bachman said it was 
the finest time of her life. 

** And ril take you over to the little old house/^ 
declared Marigold. ** I want to see it this morn- 
ing.” 

** And we must go over and tell Cap how 
spiendatious her turkey was, and what happened,” 
proposed Laurel. 

Rilla thought she wouldn^t go ; Rhoda had an 
engagement ; but Laurel wanted to see what 
Cap got for Christmas. 

Chan drove them, as Linn was over at the 
Bradley s\ 

It had been lovely weather for several days, 
and was still beautiful this afternoon. The girls 
found a strange woman in the kitchen. Joe, 
who had to stop to talk to Chan, came in, his 
face aglow with smiles. 

“ Cap was bright as a button all day, and our 
turkey was — what’s that long word. Prim ? ” 
laughed Joe. 

” So was ours spiendatious. And you can’t 
guess what happened.” 

‘‘ Neither can you, only it should have come 
on Christmas morning. Come up, and see ! ” 
And Joe beckoned the callers to the front stairs. 


GROtVING UP 


193 

They looked wonderingly at each other and 
ran up, where Cap^s door stood open. Grand- 
mother sat in the big rocking-chair — a real 
grandmother now I 

“ Oh ! ” the girls cried and rushed to the bed. 

“ My little boy,^^ introduced Cap. “ And he’s 
named Chandler Firth ! ” 

A nice big baby, rather red as to face, but 
really very well-looking. 

“ And we have a new brother ! ” announced 
Marigold. 

“ Who ? For the land’s sake 1 ” exclaimed 
Cap. 

“ Mr. Evans. He’s engaged to Rill. And we 
had the loveliest time. And your turkey was — 
well, a buster ! ” 

Cap laughed. 

Then Prim told about the speeches, and the 
evening company, and the Noel, Cap inquiring 
what that might be. 

** Well, she’s good enough for any minister,” 
said Cap. ‘‘So it has been a fine Christmas all 
around.” 

“ It’s been fine ever since we came to Grafton,” 
pronounced Goldie. ‘‘ And the Bachmans are as 
happy as a big sunflower. Greta was over and 
had the time of her life.” 


194 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ You always give that to some one,” said 
Cap. “ I never saw the beat of you folks for 
good times.” 

And it is funny — we’re not rich. At first I 
thought — well, if I had known what a millionaire 
was, Fd called Father Mann that. Then Fd had 
to call the Brenners millionaires. And now 
there’s Mrs. Willard — oh, and Mrs. Collamore, 
who have everything. And Mr. Willard sub- 
scribed a thousand to a stone church rather than 
have a frame building. Mr. Collamore too is 
generous, I think. Oh, why didn’t we ask him ? 
Will we get to be a set of beggars ? ” ran on 
Prim gaily. 

“ I don’t think so much of those things,” said 
Cap. “ Some people do them to be talked 
about. It’s the good times you give people, and 
the teaching them to do things in the best way 
and to get out of the outlandish methods. I 
must have been a guy when I came to you. I 
don’t believe Joe would have wanted me then,” 
and Cap laughed brightly. “ And his mother 
thinks Fm fine. She has a good deal higher opin- 
ion of me than my own mother ; and Father 
Alston thinks I am a wonder. It’s trying to 
make people happy as your father does that 
counts, and it doesn’t cost much money either.” 


GROWING UP 


I9S 

The nurse was coming up-stairs and said rather 
crossly — “ You’re talking too much.” 

” And we must return,” said Primrose. 
“ Mother’ll be glad to hear such news. She’ll be 
over soon to see the baby.” 

” And bushels of love to dear Miss Rilla. 
She’s just cut out for a minister’s wife,” returned 
the young mother. 

Then the callers filed down-stairs and congrat- 
ulated young Father Alston. 

” It’s funny that such a mite of a thing should 
give so much satisfaction,” declared Marigold. 
“ And everybody is so happy, only the girls that 
didn’t get Joe and the farm.” 

They had quite a budget of news to relate. 
Mr. Evans had been in to see his betrothed, and 
one and another had given him best wishes. 

‘‘ Why, it was almost as ceremonious as a mar- 
riage ! ” said Marigold. 

The eight were all quite tired. Cap’s turkey 
did duty for the second day’s dinner, and with 
some oysters they might have a delicious pie for 
to-morrow. 

“ I do wonder if I’ll get a nice beau,” mused 
Jetty as she was washing dishes, and reflecting 
on the girls’ visit to her predecessor. But I don’t 
suppose I should get a farm and a house, though I 


196 RED HO USE CHILDREN 

might get the folks. Often at home three families 
live in the same house, and one not near as nice 
as Mr. Alston’s. And the men are so different. I 
shouldn’t want any of them now. And I’m go- 
ing to save up a bit of money. Why, Greta’s 
made quite a lot by her crocheting I ” 

“Mother,” said Primrose, “do you think I 
ought to go down to the city to-morrow? I 
didn’t specify what day.” 

“ I wouldn’t go until Monday. Get a little 
rested.” 

They said a very tender good-night to Rilla, 
wondering in their hearts how it would seem 
when she was married. 

“And we must keep her room as a spare 
room. Goldie, suppose we go back to the other 
room ; it is larger, and there’s that pretty alcove,” 
proposed Prim. “We can have separate beds. 
It’s getting to be more stylish.” 

“As if there was any special style in sleep,” 
retorted Goldie. 

“We’ll miss her in the daytime,” lamented 
Rhoda. “ She’ll leave school, of course. Father 
thought it was best for her to go. He was afraid 
the talk would begin. As Mr. Evans has been 
at the Goldings’ so often, there was a little com- 
ment on that. I can’t imagine Miss Golding be- 


GROWING UP 


197 

ing a minister’s wife, nor any man marrying a 
half-sick woman.” 

“ I don’t think that would be right,” said 
Primrose decidedly. ‘‘ Rilla will owe some duty 
to the church when she accepts his life. One 
must help and not hinder. Oh, I do wonder how 
people will take it. And think — some people 
called us wild Arabs when we first came here.” 

“And you are a little wild yet,” Rhoda re- 
minded her independent sister. 

“ Girls, do please go to sleep I ” said the gen- 
tle voice of Amaryllis. 

Saturday morning there was a soft rain and it 
kept growing colder, and freezing a little. It 
had been such a lovely week. There were letters 
from Mr. Gwynne and Miss Greatorex. Prim 
must surely be down Tuesday afternoon. Sev- 
eral pretty notes from the schoolgirls and a few 
late Christmas gifts came also. Chan, after giv- 
ing a music lesson to Goldie, had joined Rilla in 
some duets, interspersing them with bits of talk. 
These two seemed so near and dear to each other 
now, and the music was such a bond between 
them. 

“ It’s funny, too,” said Chan. “ You were quite 
sure you could never get the correct fingering.” 

“ You see, I am not quick to catch at things 


198 RED HO USE CHILDREN 

as the other girls are. But they sta)^ with me 
when I once do get them. And music is beauti- 
ful. It seems to lift you upon heights. And 
Mr. Evans likes it so much.^’ 

“ Every clergyman ought to. One must sing 
God’s praises when one joins the angelic throng. 
Oh, Rilla, I am glad this happened to you,” said 
Chan earnestly. “We shall be nearer together 
all our lives. And I do really love Mr. Evans. 
Oh, do you remember that first time he came to 
dinner? And we were such a little crowd I 
Somehow we never got quite in touch with Mr. 
Burnham, our Denby pastor.” 

“Well — are people sometimes out of place ? ” 
sighed Rilla. “ Denby wasn’t suitable. Does 
God sometimes let people get into the wrong 
places? Now at Oaklands, Mr. Burnham and 
the people are working together to the better- 
ment of a great many things. It isn’t all ser- 
mons. It is social life growing wider and higher. 
I hope I shall understand how to do this. Oh, 
there are so many things for me to learn. Chan, 
you must help me all you can, that I may not 
disappoint Mr. Evans.” 

“ If you live, there will be a good many years 
in which to learn. And, Rilla, I can’t help see- 
ing how much you grow like Mother. You have 


GROWING UP 


199 

that sweet sort of patience. Oh, I am so glad 
you are going to stay here and that Father 
Mann loves the place. I do not want us to go 
away, but to have Grafton as a sort of head- 
quarters where we may return if we should stray 
afar. There will never be any place just like it 
where so many lovely things happened to us,’^ 
mused Chan, and added eagerly, “ Oh, there is 
Mr. Evans, and I think he has Sunday’s hymns.” 

Mr. Evans, true enough. Then they went at 
the practice. And as the darkness gathered, 
Chan told them about the ovations on the 
western coast, and how really proud Mr. Gwynne 
had been, and of some of the beautiful churches 
in which he had sung by request. 

Amaryllis shrank a little from the Sunday 
morning service, but she tried to keep her mind 
on the thought that it was worship due to the 
Lord, and not upon what people were thinking 
about her. And she walked home gravely on 
her father’s arm. Mrs. Mann had a quiet dignity 
that held in check any overt familiarity. And one 
of her friends took Rilla’s Sunday-school class. 

On Tuesday morning. Primrose went with her 
father down to the city, where Miss Greatorex 
met them at the station. They took the trolley 
to her pretty flat, and although Prim was wild 


200 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


to tell her news, she was too well-bred to blurt it 
out in a public conveyance. 

“I thought last summer that would be the 
ending,’^ Miss Greatorex commented when she 
learned. “ I felt that Mr. Evans was in love and 
waiting for the right opportunity,, Why, Prim- 
rose, it was a beautiful betrothal, and Rilla will 
fit into the place admirably. She is young, to 
be sure^ but she will be treading in the path that 
must have been marked out for her in the begin- 
ning. And you will all keep in touch with her. 
You have been such a united kind of family that 
it would be queer indeed if you were to drift 
apart as you grew up. And Chan has had not 
only a fine time in the western tour, but is gain- 
ing quite a remarkable reputation. He fell into 
most excellent hands. I have a book of no- 
tices, and I hope he will come up to the fine 
predictions. And his sweet face will go a long 
ways. It is such a lovely childlike face, free 
from vanity or self-seeking. He and Rilla will 
look a good deal alike as they grow older. And 
how are the twins ? 

** Oh, Laurel grows pretty by the minute and 
Rhoda ts smart I She has gone into the first 
division of her class, and is very proud of it. 
Modesty is not her forte. You will never find 


GROWING UP 


201 


her in the background. And I think she is 
really annoyed at being a twin.^^ 

** And has any wonderful thing happened to 
you ? ” Miss Greatorex asked with a smile. 

“ Well, Tve been so full of all the Christmas 
joy and the surprise of Cap’s baby that I don’t 
believe I’ve had time to grow any,” laughed 
Prim. “ Oh, do you think I’m going to be un- 
gainly tall? You see, I can’t find out what 
Alice took to lengthen her out or shrink her up, 
or I’d apply for the last.” 

“ Oh, you are not too tall yet.” 

** But if I keep on growing I ” lamented Prim. 
“ Linn does, and Chan is tall and slim.” 

“Well, I have something funny to tell you. 
Perhaps you have come to the blossoming of 
your genius. You have heard me speak of that 
school of applied design. I give some lessons 
there. It specializes on designing of various 
kinds — for engravings mostly. Mr. Anthon is 
the financial head, and he believes in having 
young people taught something at which they 
can get their living. He doesn’t believe in 
mere accomplishments unless one is rich, and 
he doesn’t like to see the poorer ones crowded 
out of the race. So it is really an industrial 
school. And many of the students do turn out 


202 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


well. I wanted Mr. Anthon to see those two 
faces and the little girl. He thought them so 
very fine, and displaying such remarkable 
genius, that he wanted to see you. He could 
hardly believe you were so young, and had not 
been taking special lessons. Therefore, we shall 
go down to see him to-day. He isn’t a flatterer 
by any means. Some of the really fine pupils 
do not like him at first. He has somewhat 
small, and very sharp eyes of a rather green- 
ish-hazel, but a very kindly mouth that smiles 
cordially when he is pleased. And he is seldom 
cross, though he has a sort of sceptical way with 
him. So if he shouldn’t quite believe all at first, 
have patience until he knows you better.” 

“ Oh, Miss Greatorex, do you really believe 
I have a genius worth anything? I can’t do 
things straight along, only when the fit takes me. 
And I can’t do a nice copy of anything. Oh, 
you should see the Sophocles I tried to do. It 
was the lesson at school. There were three of 
them and they didn’t look alike nor like the 
study. Miss West, our teacher, said I didn’t 
try, — that I had no taste for classics. I think I 
haven’t ; it is just what comes in my mind,” 
sighed Prim. 

Miss Greatorex laughed. 


GROWING UP 


203 

The art studio, on the second floor of an up-to- 
date building, was a large, well-lighted room, 
where about thirty girls in groups were doing 
different work. In addition, there were two 
much smaller rooms — one a very homelike 
office with books and engravings lying about, 
and furnished with two small sofas and some 
easy chairs. 

As Prim and her escort entered, a gentleman 
rose and closed his book, his finger in the page 
he was reading, and bowed to Miss Greatorex. 

“You are good at descriptions,” the artist re- 
marked, as he shrewdly observed Miss Great- 
orex’s companion. “I think I should have 
known Miss Firth anywhere.” 

Prim was undergoing a slow change. The 
mirthful eyes would always be the same, but the 
yellow hair was growing darker with more of a 
bronze tint. She colored now. 

“ Am I so easy to describe ? ” she asked rather 
piquantly. 

“ Well, for some people, perhaps.” 

“ I am not often mistaken for a genius,” she 
said. “In fact, I am one only by fits and 
starts.” 

“ And you are quite sure you did these two 
heads ? ” queried the artist pleasantly. 


204 HOUSE CHILDREN 

They lay there on the table. Prim colored as 
she looked at them. 

“ Yes, I am pretty sure,’^ and her lips quivered 
a little. 

“How much instruction did you have?” Mr. 
Anthon asked. 

“ Oh, I do things as they come into my mind. 
I almost see them,” responded Primrose ear- 
nestly; “I try over again several times, if I don^t 
come up to my thought, and sometimes I tear 
up drawings because they don’t approach my 
conception, or they go half-way, and days after 
the rest comes.” 

“ But you do take lessons in school-draw- 
ing?” 

She shrugged her shoulders as she replied 
with some embarrassment : 

“ Oh, I can’t do jugs and jars, and chairs and 
fireplaces, and dogs asleep, and figures in the 
carpet, and all that. I like faces when they mean 
something. This one isn’t so pretty, but I think 
the girl had a disappointment — something did 
not come quite up to her expectations ; but she 
wasn’t going to cry about it, as she has better 
sense.” 

He laughed then. 

“ It is what we call free-hand drawing, and I 


GROWING UP 


205 

must say you ought to make a success in it. 
But there are many things to be learned, if you 
think of taking it up in real earnest. Fd like to 
have you come to school here and see what you 
could do. Your brother is quite a noted singer 
already. Do you sing?” 

Prim glanced at Miss Greatorex and laughed. 

“ I can^t keep a tune, unless I follow some 
one. One of my sisters sings, as well as my 
brother.” 

“ And what do some of the others do ? ” in- 
quired the instructor with evident interest. 

“ Well, they are not grown up yet. The old- 
est one, Linn, has a wonderful head for figures. 
Mr. Stopford, his teacher, thinks he will write an 
arithmetic,” and she laughed. “ I think we will 
all start to do something. I don’t like house- 
keeping very much, but I have one sister who 
does ; and we don’t know what the little ones 
will do.” 

‘‘ How many ? ” interposed the artist, with 
some curiosity. 

“Eight in all — five girls. And I don’t be- 
lieve they will all be married. One has already 
set her heart and mind on being a college presi- 
dent. I think she’s the smartest of us all.” 

“And will you take up free-hand drawing? 


2o6 red house children 


Do you want to enter the school ? I think you 
might be a success if you have sufficient perse- 
verance,” resumed Mr. Anthon. 

“ I am afraid that isn’t my chief quality. And 
I am to graduate next year. I ought to have 
done it this year.” 

“ Don’t you want to look over some of these 
studies ? ” and he opened a large portfolio on a 
table. 

“Oh, I’d like to,” exclaimed Primrose, and 
there was a charming eagerness in her face. 

“ Meanwhile, I want to talk to Miss Greatorex 
a bit,” he commented. “ Pick out those you ad- 
mire, and then tell me why.” 

She sat down at the table, and began to 
examine the studies. There were some so very 
beautiful that she could hardly make a choice. 
Intense desire stirred within her. Oh, she must 
be a picture-maker — not exactly an artist I Trees 
and flowers were not her chief delight, nor 
interiors with a bit of kitchen, a dresser with 
shelves of plates, an old woman at a spinning- 
wheel or knitting a stocking — such as Miss 
Greatorex occasionally painted — no, she could 
not do those, there were too many details in 
them. But just one face ! 

“ Well, on just one line she has some genius,” 


GROWING UP 


207 

Mr. Anthon was saying. “ It seems the thought 
of the thing with her and her enjoyment in it. 
Do her people want to give her a special educa- 
tion?’^ 

“ I think the stepfather wants to give them 
some branch for which they will be well fitted 
and which they will like. The oldest girl is to be 
married. She is a born housekeeper. Marigold 
(who might be a twin of this girl, they are so 
nearly of an age) may make a fine church-singer, 
and they have a musical friend who will see to 
that. Primrose is full of fun and nonsense. I 
never thought of her having any special bent 
until I saw those pictures, although I knew she 
could draw comical things. It is well for a girl 
to have some special gift. I think she will be a 
success on this line. But you ought to see the 
flowers she paints ! ” 

» Good?” 

** Atrocious I And the teacher at school kept 
her at them, which I consider a waste of time and 
a trial of temper. Her mother thinks she’ll tire of 
this. She does fly from one thing to another, 
but she’s young enough to try two or three 
things. I don’t know that the stepfather would 
cordially endorse her being away from home, or 
going up and down in the train. I have a cousin 


2o8 red house children 


who has no daughters and who covets the girl, 
but they live in the same town. I think I should 
take her through the week. I like her myself. 
They are all such frank, honest children.” 

“ Oh, yes, she’s too young to be running up 
and down on the train,” observed Mr. Anthon. 
“ See here — why not put her in the school now ? 
She could do quite a bit between now and the 
time the school closes — enough to tell her real 
worth.” 

“ Then she won’t be able to graduate again,” 
Miss Greatorex reminded him. 

‘‘ Oh, bother graduation ! ” he returned with 
a laugh. “ Some graduates can’t spell ten con- 
secutive words and have to go to a business col- 
lege afterward. Let’s go and criticize her choice 
of pictures.” 

They went over to the table. 

“ Oh, there are some lovely ones here,” Prim- 
rose exclaimed, her face alight with enthusiasm. 
“ I wonder if I could ever come up to these ! 
Why, I should almost go crazy if I could. And 
this one has a secret. It is almost as if she said 
to the young fellow, * Guess it if you can,’ — but it 
isn’t for him.” 

The girl’s face was in a glow and her eyes had 
a bit of mischief in them. 


GROWING UP 


209 

‘‘You will make a mind-reader by and by,” 
Mr. Anthon said. 

“ Some minds perhaps,” doubtfully supplied 
Primrose. 

In the main, she was quite correct about the 
expressions. 

“ I wonder if you would like to come and make 
a try ?” he asked. “Young folks do not always 
choose the work they are best fitted for. We 
have tried some applicants three months, and 
then had to discharge them.” 

“ Oh, I should be so glad,” and her face was 
in a glow of delight. “ I hadn’t really thought 
of what I should try to do. I knew I couldn’t 
sing. There are only two fine voices in the 
family, unless one of the twins develops musically. 
The other will be the champion speller. And 
your school is so — so fascinating.” 

“ With a good deal of hard work,” put in Mr. 
Anthon. “ You can’t learn the piano or the 
violin without it.” 

“ Oh, I know that, to my sorrow,” and Prim 
made a funny face. 

“ Yes, I should like to have you come and try. 
We do occasionally pick up a genius.” 

“ Well, I’m glad you thought me worth the 
trouble of talking to,” Primrose said frankly. “ I 


210 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


think no one has had a very high opinion of my 
genius in any line. We’ve all been so full of fun, 
and Father likes merriment as well as the rest of 
us do.” 

‘‘ Thank your friend for bringing you. She 
can explain to your people, and I hope she will 
make it attractive enough for them to consent to 
your coming.” 

Primrose walked slowly down the aisle where 
the girls were at work. Of all branches, she 
thought the designing to be preferred ; at least it 
appealed to her most strongly. 

“ If you do not object, we should like to keep 
these studies a while,” Mr. Anthon said. 

“ I am glad you pay them that compliment,” 
she returned with a pleased smile. 

Then Miss Greatorex and the happy girl said 
their adieus and walked out into the busy, noisy 
street. 

“ I want to jump up and down, or do some 
queer thing. I feel so full of — well, I think it is 
satisfaction. I am so wild with delight that 
some one has discovered me,” laughed Primrose. 
“ Mother hasn’t a very high opinion of my ability 
in any direction, as she thinks I’m too change- 
able.” 


CHAPTER XII 


A NEW PROSPECT 

Primrose had four days of unalloyed pleasure, 
and she went home bubbling over with it. All 
the Bradleys came to greet her. Even the chess 
players had to push aside to listen. 

“ But we missed you so,” said Tip. “ There 
wasn’t anybody to make fun.” 

“ I’m going to be good for something beside 
fun. Think of getting from ten dollars up to a 
hundred for one of those cover pictures. And 
the stories inside are all illustrated. But I’d 
have to go to the city ; there are no schools about 
here. And I can stay three days, if you should 
object to my staying the whole week. Oh, I 
wonder if there’s enough in me to last, in order 
to have fine new ideas that can compare with 
other people.” 

Oh, Primrose, I don’t believe I could consent 
to you going down to New York every day. 
And there are so many accidents happening,” 
said her mother. 


2II 


212 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


“ Fd take out an accident policy. Nothing has 
happened to Father,” declared Prim decisively. 

“ Oh, Prim, the policy wouldn’t ever pay us 
for you,” Chan murmured and came around and 
kissed her. 

“Why, see how you go all around. There 
was Germany, and now you have been out to 
California, and you’ll go half over the world. 
Fd like to travel too. And just from here to 
New York I” pouted Prim. 

“ But girls ” and there her mother stopped. 

“Miss Greatorex will be glad to keep me. 
Oh, I don’t suppose those girls live right in the 
heart of the city.” 

“ I should hope not in all the smoke and 
smells,” Tip observed. 

“But there are lots of such beautiful things 
in New York,” began Prim again. “And we 
went to one lovely play and one exhibition of 
pottery and pictures that was wonderful — things 
that had been dug up in Florida, and no one 
knows who made them. There’s lots of dead 
and gone people that we never heard of ; and 
there is all manner of strange things that we 
shall never hear of. Fd like to pick out the 
beautiful things and enjoy them ; I don’t just 
know what they are to be, but I should enjoy 


GROWING UP 


213 

picture- making ; and there’s money in it too. 
Now, Rilla never had any desire for school- 
teaching. I haven’t. Why shouldn’t I try to 
get what I want ? ” 

“ Prim, I believe you have grown two inches 
since you went to the city,” Rilla observed. 

“Oh, I hope not,” exclaimed Prim in alarm. 
“ I’m tall enough. I’ll give the rest to Mari- 
gold.” 

Prim went to school on Monday, and made a 
little fun as usual. There were many things to 
talk about — Miss Greatorex and the play and 
most of the things she had seen. 

Saturday evening there were no callers, and a 
carriage load had gone over to see Cap’s baby 
that was growing wonderfully. So Prim walked 
down for her father. 

“ I told the children you’d just as soon walk. 
And I want to talk to you, dearest of fathers. 
Do you think I am altogether in the wrong in 
trying to do a little for myself ? ” 

“You have no need to begin so early. Prim- 
rose,” her father replied earnestly. “Two 
members of our family will be self-supporting. 
Mr. G Wynne wrote that there was no doubt, 
unless some misfortune occurred, such as trouble 
with his voice, that Chan would easily earn the 


214 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

rest of his education. Our dear Rilla will go in 
other hands to' great happiness, I hope. Mari- 
gold’s future is in a way assured. The Signor 
thinks she could achieve opera, with more con- 
fidence in herself. So there is no need of your 
striving.” 

“ But you see I like this work,” resumed 
Prim. “ There is a good deal for me to learn, 
even if I have the idea by heart, as the children 
say. It is not mere doing what one likes at 
one’s sweet will. I guess it will be good for me, 
and steady me a little. Mother thinks I am too 
flighty. You see, I think of so many things, 
with the fun sandwiched between. Everybody 
says I want more steadiness. I shall be more 
likely to get it at a business I love than in one 
I can’t care for.” 

“ But must there be a business ? ” interposed 
Mr. Mann. 

“ Oh, I think there must, to keep me straight. 
I’m outgrowing the fun and nonsense. I want 
something that really urges me on. And if you 
could see those eager girls ! There is a boys’ 
department also ; only not more than half as 
many, and they are doing beautiful things. Oh, 
it just fills me with longing. And Miss Greatorex 
has planned it all ; I can go four days in a week 


GROWING UP 


215 

and stay at night with her. You could come for 
me, or she would put me on the train, and I 
could take the trolley here, or some of the boys 
would come for me. Oh, there need be no 
trouble. One girl, only fourteen, goes over to 
Williamsburg. Girls in New York are smarter 
than country girls ; and they are all different 
from what they were in Mother’s time. And I’m 
glad to be different ! ” 

“ But about your school ? ” her father reminded 
her. 

“ Well, I’ve planned that, too. Now, I haven’t 
learned much this year. We’re all taking Ger- 
man, you know, and Linn can coach me in some 
of the things that would admit me to high school. 
Then I could go and join the graduating class. 
I’d not be a regular art student until next Sep- 
tember. Oh, we’d manage it. And if you would 
come out on my side ! You see how Mother 
came out on Chan’s going abroad, and how 
splendid it was I And here was that lovely time 
out to California. No one sounded a dissenting 
note. And I seem really older than I am, since 
I’m so tall.” 

“ Prim, you are a master-hand at planning.” 

‘‘ Oh, Father Mann, it is because my desire is 
so strong. Mr. Anthon thought I couldn’t begin 


2 1 6 RED HO USE CHILDREN 


too soon. It would keep me from contracting 
bad habits, and thinking that I knew it all, which 
might take a year or so to rout out. Oh, please 
do come out on my side by the time Miss 
Greatorex comes up.” 

She was so eager he hardly knew how to 
oppose her. 

“When is she coming up?” laughed Mr. 
Mann. 

“Some time next week. And then if they 
shouldn’t take me — well, I think I should die of 
mortification, and then you wouldn’t have any 
Primrose. One flower out of the garden of girls 
would be lost I ” 

Her tone was so irresistibly funny they both 
laughed. 

“ See here, we’re down at the church,” observed 
Mr. Mann. “ Let us take a look at it, and turn 
around. I believe they’re going to fix up the 
rectory, and add a conservatory on the south 
side. Oh, Prim, I should think you’d want to 
stay at home, for the high contracting parties 
think it must be in the spring.” 

“Well, I can’t make wedding gowns, and 
Rilla is such a nun-like little girl. And there 
will be plenty of people to advise. Why, likely 
as not she’ll get up the next morning and make 


GROWING UP 


217 

breakfast for the two of them. Won^t it be 
funny ? 

There was some one in almost every evening- 
young or middle-aged, discussing the museum 
or the church, and the improvements going on. 
The boys often took the play-room, but the ladies 
seemed to prefer the parlor. Chan frequently dis- 
appeared up-stairs until some one wanted singing. 
Mrs. Willard, one of the newcomers to Grafton, 
had taken a great fancy to Amaryllis, and they 
discussed housekeeping mostly. What could be 
done to the rectory, which was a rather small 
cottage, of four rooms on the lower floor and 
a large roofed-over piazza at the back? The 
smallest one was the rector’s study, which had 
been absolutely lined with books, most of them 
gifts. The Brenners had been very generous in 
this respect. 

** I’d like to build a new one,” declared Mrs. 
Willard one evening. “ A rectory ought to be 
a general meeting place for sociability, if you 
expect to unite a parish.” 

“We must think how nearly we can get our 
church out of debt first,” said Mr. Evans. “ One 
thing, the parlor is of very good size, although 
the organ occupies quite a space. Oh, I think 
we shall be able to accommodate all who like to 


21 8 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


come, and I hope it will be a general meeting 
place.” 

“ But the old church is to be altered into a 
guild room. We must not encroach too much 
on the new tenants,” some one said laughingly. 

“ We must consider the cost of all these things, 
and not go ahead too fast. You know, a church 
can’t be consecrated until its debts are paid up,” 
Mr. Evans reminded them. “We have been 
wonderfully fortunate thus far, but the real pinch 
comes at the last.” 

“ I don’t know that Grafton really needed the 
Museum,” commented Mrs. Willard. 

“ But those old men were liberal to the church 
and the town also. And the Consadines had 
lived here to the fourth generation. There are 
some valuable curiosities in the old house,” Mr. 
Evans explained. 

“It should have gone to Ridgewood,” some 
one commented. 

“ But the house was here and the old people 
were to be cared for. No, don’t let us grudge 
that. We may be proud of it some day,” said 
Mr. Evans. 

“ I wonder if the new people won’t want to 
turn everything over and make a city of us,” 
said Mr. Mann. “ We do very well now, I 


GROWING UP 


219 

think. We are only a suburb, a pretty country. 
I like the country aspect. We don’t want shops 
and factories. There is talk of running the 
trolley over to the creamery.” 

‘‘That certainly would be an advantage,” 
commented Mr. Evans. 

“ It would wake up Denby. Queer there 
should be such a benighted place in the midst 
of civilization,” Stuart added. 

“ It won’t be there much longer. It will have 
to move,” Linn observed. “ The creamery is 
buying up some of the old farms.” 

“ Well, Grafton is a pretty place, and we don’t 
want it spoiled with smoke and noise since we 
have come here to get rid of both,” Amaryllis de- 
clared. “ Let us give those old gentlemen credit 
for planning it so well. And the church will 
make a lovely point. I’m glad they did not 
want to move that.” 

Then everybody said they must go, and some 
one asked if Mrs. Mann wouldn’t get tired of 
them presently, but urged she should not until 
the committee had new quarters. 

Amaryllis blushed, and smiled demurely. 

Mr. Evans put his arm over her shoulder as 
the last caller stepped off the porch. 

“ You see, they take you in already,” he said. 


220 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


“Fin glad of the cordiality. I like Mrs. 
Willard very much, and Mrs. Brenner is really 
charming. I often think of the children’s party 
we had at her house. And Elizabeth thought, 
that evening when Mrs. Brenner made the an- 
nouncement of her engagement, it was so charm- 
ingly done.” 

“Yes, it was. It took Elizabeth quite a while 
to get in touch with the people. Somehow, I 
think Chan’s singing stirred up everybody, and 
your lovely hospitality made friends so soon. 
Why do you laugh ? ” 

“ They thought us wild Arabs at first,^’ Rilla 
remonstrated, “we played and ran so much. 
Oh, I had a letter from Gladys Chedister this 
morning. She will be so glad when vacation 
comes. And the letter was very sweet about 
the— the ” 

“ Engagement. How could it be otherwise ? ” 

“ Well, there might have been a good deal of 
dissatisfaction. After all, I am only an ordinary 
girl. I know some Latin ; Linn has hammered 
that into me. I like some of the grand old Latin 
hymns. Chan and I sing them together. I can 
read a little French, but I like the Italian ever 
so much better. You see, I am not proficient in 
any of them. I shall never go abroad ” 


GROWING UP 


221 


** How do you know ? he laughed. 

“ Why ” — she stammered, and colored rosily 
— “ clergymen seldom get rich ” 

“ But sometimes the parishioners make up a 
purse,” laughed her lover. 

“We shall be so busy getting the church out 
of debt, and remodeling the guild room, that we 
cannot accept that when it is needed for other 
things. Yes, it would be nice, but we had better 
not count on it. I often think when I come to 
the verse in the Psalter, ‘ What is required of 
thee? To deal justly, to love mercy, and walk 
humbly before thy God.’ Oh, Roger, let us try 
for that I And afterward you know there is all 
heaven.” 

“ You sweet little angel ! ” And he kissed the 
tremulous lips with his good-night. 

Of course Primrose carried her point. She 
always did sooner or later when she persisted, 
without throwing it aside for something else. 
Miss Greatorex came up, and they talked it over 
and over. 

“ She can just as well stay all night with me, 
coming home on Friday,” urged Miss Greatorex. 

“ But Rilla is to be married in the late spring,” 
said the mother reluctantly. 

“ But I can’t make wedding dresses,” reasoned 


222 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


Prim; “and Marigold sews on the machine 
much better than I do. I think it is quite 
ridiculous to have so many clothes to get old- 
fashioned. And the house is furnished. And 
one doesn’t make shirts any more for men-folks. 
And there will be ‘ showers ’ of various kinds.” 

“ I don’t mean to have a single shower if I 
can help it,” Amaryllis said with spirit. “I 
should feel humiliated to think some one was. 
going around begging for me. That’s just 
what it is. And think of Dolly Farrand going 
around begging for silk stockings and saying 
afterward she was ashamed of those Hester 
Gordon sent. And I dare say Hester pinched 
herself. She means to go to college if she 
possibly can. I shall never join a shower. And 
I want you all to say I don’t approve of them. 
The house is furnished.” 

“ Well, you don’t know how much,” Prim 
observed. 

“Rilla’s right,” announced Chan. “Set the 
girls a good example, Rilla. I shouldn’t put 
my gift in a shower if I wanted to give one ; I’d 
go all alone some dark night and lay it on the 
door-step.” 

They all laughed at that. 

There came a most cordial letter from Mr. 


GROWING UP 


223 

Collamore. He had returned home from Russia 
a fortnight previously, and was to sail for Havre 
the first of the week to meet his wife and little 
ones, whom he had not seen since they sailed 
from New York. He expected to go to London 
on this railroad business, and it was doubtful 
if he would arrive home before fall, when he 
hoped to see his Grafton friends again, and he 
would have so much to tell Linn about Rus- 
sia. The railroad would be on the eastern side, 
chiefly for troops in case of war. Mr. Colla- 
more wrote he had wished more than once he 
could have had Linn with him in this strange 
country where the people were certainly peculiar, 
but wonderful in many respects — the second 
largest kingdom in the world, with the strang- 
est history back of it. Mr. Collamore sent the 
kindest remembrances to them all, and hoped 
they had not grown beyond recognition. 

Of course he must come,” said the little 
mother. ** And I do wonder what the son will 
be like. I hope he will grow up a worthy young 
man and be a real pleasure to his father.” 

“ What do you suppose happened to Harry in 
the summer ? ” asked Linn. 

“ Nothing criminally bad, I hope,” said their 
father. ‘‘ Mr. Collamore sent Harry to that 


224 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

school at Vevay because there was too much 
money here. Yet he is a handsome young 
fellow.” 

“ I’d like to have too much money I ” said 
Linn longingly. 

“ I don’t really believe you would,” returned 
Mr. Mann. 

“Well,” laughed Linn, “just enough to take 
me around to strange countries to see what far- 
off nations are like. Think, a good deal of Rus- 
sia has never been explored ! Newspaper men 
get a chance to travel.” 

“When I’m grown up and get my flying- 
machine, I’ll take you,” promised Tip, who had 
not yet tired of his experiment. 

“Then you’ve given up your goat-carriage.” 

“ Well, I guess my legs are getting too long 
for the goat.” 

“ And I’ll write Tip’s experience and mine in 
a flying-machine,” sang out Linn. 

“We don’t call him Harry,” said Chan, “as 
we resolved.” 

“ We ought to begin at once. Tip, I wouldn’t 
answer if they called me that.’^ 

“ Why, I’d forget most times.” 

Linn and Tip went down to meet the guests. 
Linn would hardly have known Harry Collamore 


GROWING UP 


225 

from the Christmas recollections of him. He 
was a tall, handsome young fellow, had beautiful 
dark eyes and a fine complexion, with a narrow 
line of moustache on the short upper lip. 

“ I didn’t see you at all,” said Rhoda, giving 
him an earnest scrutiny. “We stayed at home 
with Cap and her sister. And now Cap is mar- 
ried. But I have been down to New York, 
though I’m ’most afraid of so many horses and 
autos.” 

“ And this is the twin,” exclaimed Harry ; 
“ but you have outgrown her. What a pretty 
little spring blossom — violet — I guess.” 

“ Oh, no, her name is Laurel I ” explained 
Rhoda. 

“ It ought to be snowdrop ; she is so fair.” 

Meanwhile, Linn had engaged Mr. Collamore 
in conversation. He was a most entertaining 
talker. He had seen all the large European 
cities, and spent some time in Siberia, which 
interested Linn, who had been studying Bona- 
parte’s invasion of Russia and the manner in 
which the invader had been finally defeated. 
When the older girls came home, they were de- 
lighted to see the gentlemen. The callers were 
later presented to Mr. Evans as a future son-in- 
law, and had to hear about the new church. 


226 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


“ Why, I am surprised that you have a daugh- 
ter so grown up,'' said Mr. Collamore. A fine 
family of children ! And where is the singer ? " 
He had a special call to New York for to- 
day's services. I'm sorry that he will not see 
you. He, like the others, has grown, and now I 
believe there is no doubt but that he will make a 
very fine singer." 

“ You are fortunate in your children, Mr. 
Mann. I am sorry not to see Chan. He has 
kept a warm place in my heart for the love he 
gave my little boy, and Chan and Arthur are the 
heroes of many of Miss Jane's stories." 

Harry meanwhile was making himself most 
agreeable to Prim and Goldie. He explained 
that he was in the city, spending his first year in 
a big law office, where admittance was esteemed 
as a great favor. 

“ I am to stay five years, with very brief vaca- 
tions, and then take a year's trip abroad. In a 
way, I like law, as it leads to some of the higher 
walks of life. This firm are not police court 
men, and don't take a hand in the low phases of 
life. And their office is like a lady’s drawing- 
room. So I am to stay there five years, if I 
don't slip up on it. I'm glad. Miss Firth, you 
are going to be in New York.” 


GROWING UP 


227 

Prim didn’t see what special difference it could 
make. 

“ Could any one come in and see your work? ” 
Harry finally asked. 

“ Why, yes, I suppose so. There were sev- 
eral visitors one day,” Prim responded agree- 
ably. 

“ Well, Pm coming. Be sure and give me the 
address.” 

Prim was wondering whether that was proper. 

“ Oh, say 1 ” and his tone fell a little. “ Wasn’t 
it mean that I should cut up rough that day last 
summer ? And I did want to see you so.” 

‘‘ What did you do ? ” asked Prim. 

‘‘ Well, it was before that. I’d helped in break- 
ing some rules. I ought to have been ashamed, 
but the Old Fellow sometimes gets into boys. 
Well, we were suspended for the rest of the term, 
and we were all near graduation. I don’t see what 
evil genius possessed me, only I’d done it once 
before. However, I could have been reinstated, 
even though one of the old Dons was cranky. 
But Father cut up rough and said I should be 
punished with the rest of the boys, and sent me 
to an old retired professor for six weeks. Father’s 
awful when he starts. So that cut me out of the 
day you were there. And some things went 


228 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


wrong with my stepmother, and I am afraid you 
didn’t have a good time.” 

“ The place was very beautiful,” said Amaryl- 
lis, feeling really sorry for the handsome fellow. 

“So I am going back to take my degree 
presently,” he went on ; “ and I’ve learned one 
new language beside. There are three men in 
this firm, and they are stiff old Dons — friends 
of Father’s. Mr. Frothingham insisted on the 
Spanish, and I have rather liked it. I doubt if I 
stay five years, though.” 

“ I should think you’d like to go with your 
father,” said Primrose. 

“ I don’t believe he wants me for a traveling 
companion very much ; and I shouldn’t enjoy 
being hustled around the way he goes. And the 
city is fine ; there is so much going on all the 
time. Yes, I like New York. Father is quite out 
of conceit with that big country place. I don’t 
know what business men get such homes for.” 

“I believe I like people best,” said Amaryllis. 

“ And I am sure I do,” rejoined Primrose. 

They were interrupted here by Mr. Collamore, 
who consulted his watch and declared he must 
go, as it was near train time. He said he hoped 
they would be good to his boy occasionally. 
Then he wished Rilla and Mr. Evans a great deal 


GROWING UP 


229 

of happiness in their new life and prosperity in 
church matters. 

Linn and Mr. Collamore had an entertaining 
talk going down to the station. 

** Oh, if I could travel everywhere as Mr. 
Collamore does,” the boy said afterward, *‘I 
wouldn’t ask anything better. His way of do- 
ing is more interesting than a commercial 
traveler’s. He doesn’t go over the same routes 
so often, and he isn’t always trying to sell mer- 
chandise.” 

“ But it is railroads and stocks and mines,” 
said Mr. Mann. “ Harry doesn’t take to that 
very enthusiastically.” 

“ Well, he’s handsome and bright and at- 
tractive, and you can’t help liking him,” re- 
marked Mrs. Mann. 

‘‘ I wish he cared more for his father,” said 
Amaryllis in an earnest tone. 

“ But you see he hasn’t been much with him ; 
how could he ? ” protested Prim. ‘‘ Now, the 
Bradley boys talk over everything with their 
father, and Linn does pretty much the same. 
Oh, suppose we ran to mother with every little 
school incident — why, she would not listen to 
half of them. You and mother are tremen- 
dously chummy, but of course you want to know 


230 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

a great many things, as you are going away 
some day. I wonder if you’ll get tired of us if 
we run in from school. But I’ll be in New York 
and my budget of news must keep until Satur- 
day.” 

“ But I shall be real lonesome,” added Mari- 
gold. “ Oh, it isn’t so much fun to grow up 
unless we all were ready to be married at the 
same time. Poor Mother I I’d pity her, though.” 

“We surely would have to agree to a shower 
then,” put in Prim. “ But if you hadn’t been so 
outspoken you would have had a lot of things, 
Rilla.” 

“ I should feel mortified when I thought of 
some one going around asking for them. I 
didn’t mean that I wouldn’t accept a gift from 
a friend when she thought of it herself,” said 
Rilla. 

“ And you’re always so ready to give things, 
Rilla,” Goldie murmured. 

“ I try to give things to those who need them,” 
Rilla replied. 

“ And I like to give to people I love,” put in 
Prim. 

“ That isn’t exactly charity,” Linn observed. 

No one made any reply to that and the two 
girls went to their own room. 


GROWING UP 


231 

“ How queer it will seem to have Rilla away,’^ 
Prim declared thoughtfully. 

Rilla read the psalms for the evening prayer, 
thinking of the time they would read them to- 
gether, and have their lives in unison. There 
could not be any happier girlhood, since the 
advent of Mr. Mann had certainly been replete 
with the sweetest gifts of love and prosperity. 
God had sent her so many choice gifts, it 
seemed — Chants music, and all the lovely friends 
they had made ; and she prayed that Roger and 
she might have the wisdom to keep them, and dis- 
tribute to all those who were in need and necessity. 

Tuesday morning Mr. Mann took his second 
daughter down to the Art School. Several girls 
were coming only three days in a week. He 
had a very satisfactory talk with Mr. Anthon, 
who thought a girl having such an unusual 
talent as Miss Firth ought to have an oppor- 
tunity to perfect it on the lines, not only of those 
she liked, but where she could do her best work. 
They could tell in two or three months what sort 
of success she would be. One of their pupils 
in free-hand drawing had a position at five 
thousand a year. 

Primrose opened her eyes very wide. Why, 
she could begin to compete with Chan I 


232 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

That first morning she did get very tired of 
the initial tediousness, as it seemed to her it 
couldn’t amount to much toward a fine picture. 
When luncheon hour arrived, the students went 
up to the next floor, where a lady kept a neat, 
pretty lunch-counter, affording one a choice of 
various dainty kinds of foods. And the girls 
were quite chatty (a number of them nearer 
thirty than twenty years. Prim thought) ; but all 
of them very much in earnest. 

In the afternoon. Miss Greatorex came in ; 
and Prim and she had a cozy time in her pretty 
flat, where, without much trouble, the hostess 
prepared a sort of high-tea. Primrose wrote a 
little note home, saying that she liked her new 
venture very much and shouldn’t be at all home- 
sick. 


CHAPTER XIII 

A GIRL'S WAY 

They missed Primrose very much at home. 
Mr. Mann wished she had been the ordinary girl 
and not a genius. Besides, she might have a 
lover, and there would be another break in the 
family. Once he had thought it would be nice 
to have them settled in homes of their own, but 
he knew now it was a trial to have them go out 
of the family circle for any cause whatsoever. 
Moreover, it seemed as if Amaryllis grew dearer 
to him in those pretty ways so like her mother. 
True, her home would be quite different ; yet 
Bessy had come to have a wider outlook ; and 
even he had changed. There were so many 
new things in the pretty suburb — new people, 
wider social life, higher interests. Why, he had 
never supposed he could be so interested in all 
kinds of improvements. And how the time 
seemed to fly I 

If Amaryllis escaped the shower by her protest, 
which rather offended some of the friends, she 

233 


234 red house children 

had some lovely gifts, nevertheless, and one 
thing especially delighted her very much. Mr. 
Collamore, before he sailed, sent her a beautiful 
pearl pin, and a generous check, made out to 
Mr. Evans, for his new churclj. They were be- 
ginning the foundation with a great deal of 
thankfulness. 

“ You ought to wait and be married in the new 
church,” said Miss Golding upon one of Ama- 
ryllis’s visits. “ The chapel is so small, or the con- 
gregation has grown so large. I heard they 
were putting some new seats in the space before 
the chancel.” 

“ There have numbers of new people come in 
— largely from Ridgewood. And some have 
families of children,” explained Mrs. Mann. 
'‘We almost frightened them at first with our 
eight.” 

“ Well, eight does seem a good many,” Miss 
Golding laughed. “ Chandler has so far been 
the most wonderful success. But did Prim- 
rose really have to go to the city ? ” 

“ There was no art school at Ridgewood,” ex- 
plained Mrs. Mann. 

“ I should dislike to have her go down every 
day. Don’t you think it sort of commonizes a 
girl, just as she is entering young womanhood ? ” 


GROWING UP 


235 

“ She is to stay through the week with Miss 
Greatorex,’^ the mother returned patiently. 

“ Is it really industrial art ? ” queried the friend. 

“ Yes,’^ answered Rilla with some rising color. 
'‘They think Prim has a decided taste for 
heads and faces, which are used so much now. 
Father believes all girls should know some 
special thing whereby they could get a living 
if they fell on evil times. And there are so 
many of us.^^ 

“ And one of those sisters will be a singer,” 
pursued Miss Golding. 

“ Yes — Marigold. Mr. Gwynne thinks she will 
make a good contralto singer for a church.” 

“O dear I” said Miss Golding. “I should 
want to aspire to be a prima donna.” 

“ Marigold is quite retiring in that respect. 
And, like Chan, she is very fond of church 
music,” the eldest sister explained. 

“Are you going to have a full-dress wed- 
ding ? ” 

Amaryllis colored, and responded, “ I’d rather 
have a simple marriage. It seems more digni- 
fied to me. I thought Miss Evans’s so pretty 
and sacred with the friends standing round.” 

“ But they were going so far away. You stay 
here of course.” 


236 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ I didn’t want it planned until the last thing.” 

** But it seems such a pity it cannot be in the 
new church,” ran on the lady. “ And I shall 
send you a little gift, in spite of what you said. 
It is being a great pleasure to me to do some 
work I know you will enjoy. Oh, Amaryllis, 
you ought to be a rich woman like Mrs. Willard 
or Mrs. Brenner. You do love pretty things 
so.” 

Rilla flushed, and responded : “Yes, in a way. 
I admire them. I like Mrs. Brenner’s house. 
She has so many beautiful things, which she has 
picked up abroad ; yet I think she never pays ex- 
travagant prices for them ; and some people feel 
that a thing to be valuable must be costly.” 

“ Well, cheap things do lack a certain style,” 
replied Miss Golding petulantly. 

“ Nowadays there are so many comparatively 
beautiful articles much cheaper than formerly, 
because machines have been invented and im- 
proved upon,” Amaryllis said. “ Mother has 
some thread lace of grandmother’s that I don’t 
think very pretty, though it was costly ; still for 
its history, I suppose it is valuable, as it can’t be 
duplicated. It is said the lace belonged to the 
Empress Josephine ; but one would have to be 
told. Grandmother wrote out its history.” 


GROWING UP 


237 

Oh, I wish I were rich enough to buy it ! ex- 
claimed Miss Golding. 

What special good does it do packed away 
in a box? It should be in some museum,” pro- 
tested the girl. 

“ I should keep it as long as I lived.” 

‘‘ And then ? ” queried Amaryllis. 

“ Well, it might go then. I shall not have any 
descendants,” admitted her friend, and asked in- 
terestedly, “Of course you will be married in 
full dress?” 

“ It isn’t quite decided. Fd rather be mar- 
ried in traveling costume and go away ” 

“What a pity you can’t go abroad,” inter- 
rupted Miss Golding enthusiastically. “ That 
would be such a lovely thing to recall.” 

“ I think I’d rather go later on, and when I 
had read up about wonderful places and their 
histories. I know so little as yet. And some- 
how our thoughts and plans are all about the 
new church,” was Amaryllis’s quiet response. 

“ Still it is a pity,” sighed the friend. 

Amaryllis rose, with a smile lingering about 
her pretty lips. 

“ We must learn to be content with what God 
gives us,” she murmured. 

“Well, I’m glad I have advantages to re- 


238 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

member/’ concluded Miss Golding, with a self- 
satisfied inclination of the head, as her callers 
left. “ If I had only common every-day things 
to recall, I should be very unhappy.” 

Learning to be happy with what God sent 
was one of the useful lessons of life, Rilla reflected, 
and she thought how happy Miss Pierson was in 
her home in that little, old-fashioned, plain house 
with so many made-over furnishings. And her 
own people were happy in the little old Red 
House, she recalled. The Bachmans were happy 
there also. Yet it seemed as if Miss Golding 
wasn’t very happy, excepting when she was 
talking of past prosperity and her wonderful tour 
abroad. 

“Have you learned that lesson?” asked her 
fiance that evening, in a rather amused tone. 

“ I liked to listen so much at first, as I seemed 
to live it with her ; and the account is still enter- 
taining. Only,” and Rilla smiled demurely, “I 
think I like other things — the common every-day 
matters concerning the growth of people and the 
new thoughts they entertain. Miss Pierson has 
so many. She reads the Bible so much, and finds 
so many delightful things. Why, that is almost 
as good as traveling in those old cities and get- 
ting to know the people. Miss Golding and I 


GROWING UP 


239 

spoke of another thing. Of course, I knew that 
church was the proper place to be married. 
Prim was talking about that last evening. And 
I wonder if — how you would like it best,” hesitat- 
ingly. 

“ Do you mean — whether it should be in full 
dress ? ” asked Mr. Evans. 

“ Yes,” she whispered. 

“ I believe the bride decides that.” 

“Then I shouldn’t ”and Amaryllis colored. 

“ Oh, I know what you are going to say, little 
modest pansy bloom I It is high time we 
talked this over,” declared the fiance. “ I think 
your mother is in favor of what is called full 
dress. She consulted me about it a few evenings 
ago. And two of my parishioners for whom I 
have a sincere regard, and whose opinion I 
think quite worth while, have no idea that there 
can be any other ceremony. You know that 
beautiful verse in psalms about the daughters 
being brought to the king. It always seemed 
to me that was a pattern for a wedding cere- 
mony ; that it should be made as beautiful as 
possible when both parties were young and, as 
in this case, they are setting out with the same 
duties and hopes and aspirations. It cannot be 
too sacred, though it need not be overloaded 


240 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

with state and show. And white seems the 
proper attire.*^ 

“ But Elizabeth ” murmured Rilla. 

“ Neither of them was very young, and they 
were going away for years,” explained Mr. 
Evans. Yes, that was very satisfactory. We 
are coming back, and if it is God’s good pleas- 
ure, may live here many years. So I want it 
pleasant to remember, and not to be unduly 
criticized. Are you sorry to have it taken out 
of your hands ? ” 

“No, so long as you are happy about it,” 
she declared fervently. 

“ We do owe some concession to our neighbors’ 
opinions, if there is no special question of right 
or wrong, — more a matter of taste than anything 
else,” Mr. Evans concluded sincerely. “The 
girls will be better pleased. How strange it 
seems without Primrose.” 

Rilla told the girls the decision before they 
went to bed. They were both delighted. 

“I want the Bradley boys to stand,” said 
the bride-elect. “ They were our first friends. 
Oh, do you remember the fun we had with the 
Robinson Crusoe verses, and the night we went 
to tea I I do like Mrs. Bradley so much.” 

“ Father will be delighted. I think he would 


GROWING UP 


241 

have put a veto on any Quaker proceedings,” 
laughed Goldie. 

They told Father and Mother the next morning. 

“ I suppose I may have a voice in the quality 
of the gown?” laughed the bride-elect. “Tm 
not going to emulate the Vicar’s bride. I don’t 
mind about it wearing well, for we don’t want it 
dyed. You know, Rhoda was always wishing 
for a silk frock, so we can make it over for her.” 

‘‘You can’t will it to me,” interposed Prim- 
rose, “unless we put a flounce on the skirt. 
You are such a small dot, and I shall be the 
family Maypole.” 

“Who is going down to the city to choose it?” 
Father asked. 

“ I suppose I may be allowed to choose my 
own wedding gown,” said Rilla meekly. “ It is 
going to be a soft white silk without a bit of 
rattle in it — and some pretty lace — not a bead 
anywhere to jingle.” 

“ Shall we wear white silk ? ” asked the girls 
in chorus. 

“There is some pretty white stuff that is as 
soft as silk,” announced Primrose. “We will 
choose our wedding gowns too. I’ll look on 
Tuesday when I am down in the city.” 

About the middle of the forenoon, Mrs. Bren- 


242 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

ner drove up* The coachman handed out a 
long box. 

“ Miss Rilla,” the caller said, “this isn’t a shower, 
and no one has gone around begging for it. 
Mr. Brenner and I did it all ourselves. We’re 
sorry you cannot be the first bride in our new 
church, but Mr. Evans isn’t willing to wait so 
long, he told me. And perhaps he thought I 
was rather curious, but I found out what he 
liked, and ordered it ! I borrowed one of your 
dresses and sent down to New York, and the 
costumer will send up a modiste to make any 
alterations and put on the lace. So you won’t 
have any trouble. I suppose your two sisters 
will be bridesmaids, and some day next week I 
will go down and help you choose for them. It 
saves so much trouble and bother.” 

“ Oh, I don’t know what to say !” Amaryllis 
put her arms around Mrs. Brenner’s neck, and 
hid her face on the friendly bosom. 

“ You are to say nothing, my dear. If you 
want to scold — and I don’t believe you know how 
— you will have to go at your betrothed. We 
talked this matter over, and no one else is to 
know. We’ll have as little fuss as possible, as 
that is to your taste. Miss Amaryllis. I’ve hoped 
for this, to tell the truth, and I most cordially ap- 


GROWING UP 


243 

prove his choice. There, dear, wipe your eyes. 
It is a great pleasure for me to give it, as I 
have no daughters of my own. I hope you will 
be very happy. I am certain we shall be with 
you. And now I feel that we may half adopt 
Chan.” 

After she had gone, mother and daughters sat 
down, and looked at each other in a curious 
manner. 

‘‘ If we were Tip, we might all cry ; and it 
would be wretched taste to laugh, so let us be 
sensible,” gasped Primrose. “ Oh, Momsey, 
what wonderful things happen to us, and all 
because Tip did cry, and Father Mann came 
to hand I We’ve had lovely times and so have 
the Bachmans. And then the Burnhams, our 
old Denby friends, and Katy growing into such 
a nice girl, and being so well and rosy. Why, 
what could we have done to help ourselves 
at Denby? And all the old maids pegging 
away on the machines — only Letty Beers mar- 
ried.” 

“ Primrose I ” checked her mother. 

“ And what do you suppose they’ll say to Rilla 
Firth marrying a minister before she is twenty ? ” 
ran on Prim irrepressibly. “And we haven’t 
come to want yet I And Father Mann hasn’t 


244 HOUSE CHILDREN 

sent us out to earn our bread. Oh, Father 
Mann, you are the dearest delightfulest man God 
ever sent to a family of children 1 ” 

Had God ordered all this ? Was this why he 
had taken a house that he hardly knew what to do 
with, and been startled by some children crying 
on an old stone door-step ? Surely the All- 
Father had given him the “ oil of joy ” for the 
longing of his soul, reflected the happy guardian 
of the circle. 

There were two very busy weeks. And as if 
to emphasize the occasion, the Bishop, who was 
to be in Ridgewood and Conway on Sunday, 
sent word if the marriage could be appointed for 
Monday he would with great pleasure solemnize 
it, and on the same visit view the foundation and 
plans for the new church, for which Mr. Evans 
had been so energetic. 

“ Monday I ” exclaimed the little mother aghast. 
“ And it is wash-day ! 

Well, we don’t expect to be married in these 
clothes,” exclaimed Primrose. “ They couldn’t 
get ironed in time. We are to be spandy new 
from top to toe. And Cap said she would come, 
if it was ten o’clock Saturday night.” 

“ On Monday begin ” chanted Marigold 

facetiously ; “ there are five girls, and we’ll fill up 



Everybody said it was a lovely wedding ! — Page 245 




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GROWING UP 


245 

the week, and have Jetty married on Saturday, 
and have a cold dinner on Sunday.” 

“ Well, you have filled up the week,” put in 
Tip. 

“ I don’t know whether I can be married on 
Tuesday,” interposed Prim, slyly ; “ and whether 
the Bishop could come.” 

‘‘Oh, Primrose, you might give that under- 
taking to me. The perquisites are to go to 
Amaryllis, you know,” said Mr. Evans. 

Everybody said it was a lovely wedding I 
And Miss Firth’s wedding gown was perfect — 
exactly like her. Mrs. Brenner arranged the 
procession. The Bishop was in his chair in the 
chancel. There were roses everywhere, and sweet 
little Laurel walked first, scattering them in the 
bride’s pathway. Then Mrs. Mann walked with 
her daughter (Mrs. Brenner had seen this in a mar- 
riage abroad), followed by the bridesmaids with 
their attendants, some dear friends who were to 
stand around. The little chapel was so full that 
some guests were standing in the aisles. 

Roger Evans came out of the vestry, meeting 
Mrs. Mann with her daughter. They took their 
places and the ceremony began. Mr. Mann, 
with a suppressed sigh, gave away the daughter 
that he had planned to keep for himself, and 


246 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

Amaryllis was made Mrs. Roger Evans after 
God’s holy ordinance. There was a delicate 
flush on her face throughout, and later in the 
lobby, where she was stopped with congratula- 
tions and good wishes from kindly hearts. 

A reception followed — a really gay time. 
Everybody said it was a pity Mrs. Brenner did 
not have some girls of her own for whom to 
scheme such festivities, as she could arrange 
things so beautifully. The Bradley boys and 
Linn acquitted themselves handsomely. And 
there were conjectures as to whether that hand- 
some young Collamore belonged to Primrose. 
Some people did have luck marrying off their 
daughters, and they were not always rich people 
either, the curious commented. 

Then the bride in her pretty, gray traveling 
attire said good-bye to the guests. She and her 
mother had a little cry up-stairs, for Amaryllis 
would never be quite the same again. But she 
and her mother would cherish some memories 
different from those shared by the other girls. 

No wonder everybody said it was a beautiful 
wedding ! 

“ The whole thing seemed just like Miss Rilla,” 
said Cap. “ Pm so glad Joe brought his mother 
over, though she’s getting quite feeble. I 


GROWING UP 


247 

wouldn’t have missed it for anything. And 
Chan’s playing was lovely. The Bishop was so 
tender and fatherly. I always thought bishops 
high-headed and rather grand in their white 
gowns over black silk and their sleeves tied 
round their wrists. And I’ll bet a penny Miss 
Rilla’s got a nice husband, and she deserves it, 
too.” 

So many guests stayed in the evening that the 
family could not indulge in lonesomeness. Mr. 
Mann kissed them all tenderly at bedtime, but 
deeply mindful that one had gone out of the 
circle. She would be very happy of course, 
Heaven bless her I he tried to remember. 


CHAPTER XIV 


AWAKENING 

They were walking in one of the shady paths 
in Central Park — Primrose and Harry Collamore. 
She had said at noon that she was going home. 

Primrose rarely went up to the station alone, 
as her father did not like to have her go un- 
escorted ; neither did Mr. Mann like to have 
Harry Collamore so attentive to Primrose. 
Why, the father could not tell, as he reflected 
that most men would glory in having a rich son- 
in-law. But Primrose, with her volatile tem- 
perament, was much too young to choose. 
Amaryllis, with her steady religious nature, had 
not been likely to be led into indiscreet paths. 
She had chosen wisely. 

The bride and groom had gone to Old Point, 
that Mecca of honey mooners. Everything had 
been delightfully new to Amaryllis ; most of all 
the love of her husband. She had a full right to 
the sweet and pretty tendernesses without blush- 
ing. She dared to take little liberties that he 
thought very fascinating. She really was develop- 
248 


GROWING UP 


249 

ing on womanly lines— wifely lines — that she 
had not dreamed of before. He had been rather 
reserved with the young women of the congrega- 
tion, but he was curiously at home with the Firth 
girls, and he and Linn were fast friends. 

The rectory had been a little changed. There 
was a pretty desk for a lady, some nice linen, 
two rare vases, and some fine china. Some of 
the articles in the house had belonged to the 
groom’s mother, and were dear to both him 
and Elizabeth. These had not been displaced. 
There were also several of the newer Madonnas 
that Elizabeth had admired very much. 

‘‘ I am glad they have not altered the aspect 
of the place,” the bride said. ‘‘ I like to think 
Elizabeth has been here and of some of the nice 
talks we have had. How good it is to know 
that she is so happy now and finding work that 
she likes I ” 

There were some teas at the rectory. Then 
Mr. Gwynne came, and there was so much to 
talk about. Chan’s future seemed quite assured. 
The voice of manhood would be a fine tenor, Mr. 
Gwynne prophesied. It was very slow in chang- 
ing and kept its exquisite tone. He and Chan 
might go to Paris a while in the autumn, but Mr. 
Gwynne was not going to have him forced. He 


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GROWING UP 


251 

free-hand was really wonderful. However, she 
was rather too lawless. 

Miss Creator ex was quite busy just at this 
time, as she was going up to Canada with a 
party ; and Prim often started alone for her 
father’s factory, but strayed over to the park and 
from thence to the station. There was a pretty 
restaurant for ladies and children on the way, 
with little partially-enclosed booths, and here 
Prim and Harry Collamore, who had grown more 
and more sociable since he had first dropped 
into the Art School, used to stroll for a friendly 
chat. He was bright and amusing, as he had 
such a fund of entertaining college stories. Just 
at this season he had to go away for a fortnight 
to take his degree, and see who won in the 
regatta. 

Harry wrote her a letter that brought the 
warm color to her f^Lcer He missed her every 
day and hour, he ^aid ; she was in his thoughts 
most of the time ; the regatta had lost its charm, 
and he was staying only because he had to, in 
order to get a needed paper, when he should be 
through with all this business, thank the Fates I 
But she must write to him. He would send a 
directed envelope. 

“ Is your letter from the city ? ” inquired her 


252 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

mother, as she observed Prim’s eager perusal of 
the note. 

“Yes,” Prim answered with a qualm of con- 
science. 

“ The school is not opening ? ” 

“Oh, no. That is, open for students. You 
see some of them have no nice place to work at 
home, but there are no real lessons given through 
the vacation.” 

“You have made up your mind to go on?” 
her mother pursued. 

“ Oh, yes. I like the work so much.” 

“ I think there isn’t any real need, Primrose,” 
pleaded the mother. “ Marigold will be a singer. 
Mr. Gwynne thinks she will have a fine contralto 
voice. I’d like one girl at home. And there is 
no use counting on Rhoda. She doesn’t take to 
sewing nor any kind of housework.” 

“ I’m not specially fond of sewing,” declared 
the girl ; “ but I do like this art work, and one 
can make money easily.” 

When his next letter came — the third, without 
any answer from her. Primrose felt she must 
stop his correspondence in some way, especially 
when the impulsive fellow wrote : “ As soon as I 
reach the city, I am coming up I ” 

Primrose wrote him a brief note, saying she 


GROWING UP 


253 

would be down on a certain day, when Harry 
might call at the school, soon after twelve. 

Primrose felt that her father did not quite ap- 
prove of the intimacy ; and yet Mr. Collamore 
had asked him to be good to his son. They all 
liked Mr. Collamore so much; and why shouldn’t 
they be friendly with Harry ? This was like a 
second home to the Bradley boys, and no one 
made any objection to that. And Harry was 
charming. Primrose reasoned. 

She went down to the city with her father, 
who stopped the trolley for her near the school. 
There were three or four girls working in the 
rooms. She stooped and picked up a folded 
paper as she went to her seat, opening it there. 
Oh, yes; she recalled their being given out. The 
pupils were to try for a prize. A business firm 
offered a prize of one hundred dollars for two 
drawings that would set forth in a catchy, at- 
tractive manner some of their preparations. 
They were to be sent in by the first of Novem- 
ber, to be used by Christmas. The pupils were 
urged to do their best. A slight description of 
what was needed followed, while on another 
paper the proposition was exploited more at 
lengtho Prim very hastily glanced at the direc- 
tions, and took down her book of studies and 


254 HO USE CHILDREN 

began to work, but somehow she was not in the 
humor. Every time the door opened she glanced 
up. What if something had prevented his com- 
ing? 

At last, there he was, flushed and annoyed 
looking ! 

“Have you waited long?” Harry asked hur- 
riedly. “ I had to do an errand for one of the 
old fogies. My ’ it’s hot in here. Are you 
busy?” 

“ No, only passing away the time.” 

“You couldn’t think I meant to disappoint 
you?” 

She gave a nervous laugh. 

“I’ve been just crazy to see you. And you 
wouldn’t write. What do you think a fellow is 
made of ? ” 

“ I know what girls are made of,” laughingly 
returned Prim. 

“They are a varying compound, generally 
tantalizing,” he retorted gaily. “ But get your 
hat, and let us take a walk in the fresh air on 
the shady side. This room is smothering.” 

He was very much flushed. She remarked 
the room ought to seem pleasant to him, and 
observed with annoyance two girls looking at 
him sharply as they conversed. 


GROWING VP 


255 

Prim closed her book, put on her hat, and fol- 
lowed Harry down the stairs. On the last step 
he took her arm as if to balance her, and gave it 
a squeeze. Then he assisted her into the trolley, 
and they rode up-town to that pretty retired 
place. 

“ Primrose,^^ he whispered abruptly, “ can you 
guess that I am in love with you ? ” 

“ What nonsense ! ” she returned, sharply, 
setting her lips firmly together. 

There was no one very near them in the car. 

‘‘ It is not nonsense to me. You are hardly 
out of my mind a moment at a time.” 

“ After this short acquaintance ? ” 

“Well, we met some time ago, remember. 
And we didn’t meet last summer to my chagrin. 
When we did meet again you were grown up 
and beautiful, — fascinating.” 

“ Beautiful I ” Prim laughed sarcastically. 

“ Well, you are to my fancy. I like tall, slim, 
willowy girls. And your brown eyes — with the 
light hair I I like girls that can flush and 
change, and answer back spicily, and see the 
fun in everything. I like you. I am in love with 
you. Primrose.” 

“ You must not say such things to me,” she 
answered with dignity. 


256 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ Why not, when it is true ? ” 

“ For one thing, I am too young to have such 
grave matters for consideration. And fancies 
change,’^ she said with determination. 

“ This isn’t any fancy. I was saying to my- 
self when your sister was married that I would 
like to be in Mr. Evans’s place if you could be in 
your sister’s.” 

“ Well, I’m not thinking about marriage. 
There is ever so much work I want to do first. 
I like pictures better than lovers. To create 
something just out of your brain that appeals to 
beholders ” 

“ But you would tire of a lifetime of it,” he 
interrupted. “ It wouldn’t satisfy any woman 
with a soul. Women are made to be loved. 
Oh, I admit they are made for some other things, 
but not the real hard work of life.” 

“ It isn’t hard when your whole soul goes in 
it,” she returned. “Just think what you can do 
with a pencil ! I get fairly bewitched about it. 
I’m not thinking about men.” 

“ Then begin to think about me.” 

“ I don’t want to think about any one. I want 
my life to myself for a while, at least. Father 
and Mother would object. They wouldn’t allow 
Amaryllis to be engaged at first, although Mr. 


GROWING UP 


^S7 

Evans just suited her. He is good through and 
through ; and hers is the life she likes. Father 
will not be in a hurry to have any of us married.^’ 

“Some fathers feel queer about it at first,’’ 
Harry admitted. “I wouldn’t want a girl to 
marry a poor stick, who couldn’t half take care 
of her. I know Father’ll be real generous to me. 
There’s always so much law business to be done, 
and I can be put right onto it. Oh, we could be 
engaged without blurting it all over.” 

“ I wouldn’t be engaged, or have a lover in 
any underhand fashion,” declared Prim with great 
earnestness. “ And you must not write me any 
more such ridiculous letters. I put them in the 
fire. I wouldn’t show them to Mother. They 
were silly.” 

“ Well, I’m in love.” 

“ Oh, see here,” she interrupted, “ this is a 
hundred times more sensible ; ” and she took the 
printed prize offer out of her dainty bag. “ Here 
is an offer made to the school for two drawings 
— pictures for advertising. They will be quite 
small, and a hundred dollars for the two I And 
I am going to try. So I haven’t room in my 
brain for nonsense. We are going up to Nova 
Scotia next week. Father is to take Goldie and 
me. I want to see that wonderful Bras d’Or and 


258 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

the picturesque country. And then I shall be 
very much engrossed.” 

“ Can’t I come at all?” he demanded, in an 
almost angry tone. 

“Now and then, to hear how I get along, if 
you can be sensible.” 

“ Let us get a carriage and have a drive,” he 
proposed. “ I have the rest of the day before 
me.” 

She ought to refuse and go home, she knew. 
There need be no especial explanation, either 
there or to Harry. The wind was blowing up 
cooler, and Harry could be very entertaining if 
he would let this foolish love alone. But how to 
make a break — and there was a hansom and 
an eagerly smiling driver standing in the broad 
doorway. 

So the carriage was bargained for, and Harry 
assisted her in, with the most gentlemanly fash- 
ion. Up along the beautiful Hudson they went. 
Prim’s companion could not altogether refrain 
from sentiment, but he was much more gentle, 
and had so many other subjects to talk about, 
for he had been about a good deal. He had 
seen some fine plays and best actors, had no 
end of amusing college incidents, and had met 
some quite noted people. 


GROWING UP 


259 

Before returning they stopped at a rather fash- 
ionable hotel and had a dainty dinner. Harry 
certainly did not have to be careful of his money. 

“ I wish you’d have a little wine,” he prof- 
fered. “ Maybe you like champagne? ” 

“ I never drink any of those things. We have 
promised Father not to do it until we’re past 
twenty-one.” There was a grave, sweet look on 
her face, and her voice was gentle. 

“ Do you suppose Linn will keep his promise 
when he begins to go out in company ? ” 

“ I think he will,” 

** Well, he will get unmercifully chaffed.” 

** Perhaps he won’t go in that kind of com- 
pany,” she remarked in a dry tone. 

But he intends to go to college.” 

‘‘ Oh, yes ; I hope he will. Father counts on 
it. Amaryllis didn’t want to go. I can’t im- 
agine her being a college girl. And I don’t like 
to study. I want to do something with both 
hands and brain. I want to make something. 
One of the twins is study-crazy, and is a fine 
scholar for her years. She aspires to be a col- 
lege president.” 

Not the pretty one ? ” he exclaimed. 

“ No. Oh, Laurel’s simply sweet and pretty I 
She is Father’s darling. Marigold will have a 


26 o red house children 


beautiful contralto voice. So you see, we will 
be able to follow out our several gifts." 

“ What is Linn aiming at ? " 

Oh, he doesn’t know yet. He wants to see 
a good deal of the world and to make money." 

“ He and that Bradley fellow are great chums. 
But Bradley is more in love with you than with 
Linn," asserted Harry. 

You would be improved for general society 
if your thoughts did not run so much on love," 
she said in a sarcastic tone. 

“ How can a fellow help it when he has the 
complaint badly?" 

** Don’t be so foolish." 

‘‘Your time of love will come some day — I 
want to be there. Oh, Primrose, you will love 
royally," he concluded vehemently. 

There was a dainty, scornful curve on her 
upper lip. Prim was curious and oddly pretty. 
And that curve of her neck, that proud gesture, 
that tempting withholding ! She was not the 
kind of girl to throw herself at a man. 

It was a superb dinner. Prim thought she 
did not know half the viands. She experienced 
an uncomfortable feeling when she observed two 
well-dressed, refined-looking women watching 
her, and, she felt, talking about her. She held 



She experienced an uncomfortable feeling when she 

OBSERVED TWO WOMEN WATCHING HER . — Page 260. 




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GROWING UP 


261 

her head up in a stately manner, and would only 
smile gravely at her companion’s quips. Oh, 
how glad she was when it was through 1 The 
ladies went out and began to walk up and down 
the broad piazza. Harry excused himself and 
disappeared a few moments. Meanwhile Prim 
observed that the ladies passed and repassed her 
window. 

“ No,” Prim overheard one remark, “ it isn’t 
the same girl. But this young lady has no 
chaperon. I don’t see how mothers can allow 
young girls to go out that way. Young Colla- 
more’s father is rich and he spends money re- 
gardless. I noticed he had a handsome outfit. 
But I wouldn’t want my daughter out with him, 
if I had one.” 

Then the women passed on. Harry had 
asked Primrose to go with him to a matinee 
at which there was a dance afterward, and she 
had peremptorily refused. She felt sure Miss 
Greatorex would not consent to chaperon her 
without Mother’s consent. Yet Prim was so 
fond of dancing, and longed to be in a lively 
crowd ! 

Harry came back just as the hansom drove 
up. He assisted her in with a pronounced flour- 
ish, and they drove off. 


262 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


“ Which road will we take ? he inquired 
gallantly. “ Oh, I wish you could go down to 
the city, and we’d go to some nice theatre.” 

“ Well, we can’t,” asserted Prim decidedly. 
“ I’m tired and want to go straight home. At 
all events, I want to get home before Father. 
You can reach Ridgewood station, can’t you ? ” 

“ Then I shall have to go alone,” he sighed. 

“ Well, you are not afraid ; I should be. If I 
reach home early, I shall not have to explain — 
otherwise, it would be our last excursion to- 
gether.” 

The girl was saying in her inmost heart it 
would be the lavSt time she would do such a 
thing, as it had been the first. 

“ Oh, when we are engaged your father would 
trust you to me.” 

She made no reply. 

He touched the horse with the whip, and 
they sped along. It was a beautiful road, but 
Prim held her breath. What if they should meet 
something I Presently the horse slowed up of 
its own accord. They were coming in sight of 
familiar places. Oh, she would soon see the 
little chapel I What if she should meet her 
mother and Rilla I Her heart stood still for a 
minute. They passed the chapel. 


GROOVING UP 263 

“ Stop here,” she said in so decided a manner 
that he held in the horse at once. 

But why can’t I take you clear home ? ” 

” Oh, I don’t want you to.” She made as if 
she would jump out. He caught her arm. 

“ Let me.” 

He sprang out, and his arms were around her. 
He pressed her passionately against his breast, 
and the next instant kissed as passionately the 
sweet red, blossom mouth. Was it whiskey she 
detected ? She tried to push him away. 

“ When shall I see you again ? ” 

Oh, I don’t know,” she panted. We are 
going away. Father is going to take us two 
girls up to Nova Scotia, and around, I don’t 
know when we shall be back.” 

Thereupon she broke away and ran like a 
deer, fortunately meeting no one, until she lost 
her breath and stopped. There was no need of 
this wild flight, however, as she heard the sound 
of the carriage wheels grow fainter and fainter. 
She stepped up on the porch and rang the bell. 

Jetty came to the door. 

'' Oh, Miss Primrose, your mother and Mrs. 
Evans have gone out calling. She said to have 
dinner at six. You didn’t come home with your 
father?” 


264 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ No. I’m tired. I’ll go up and lie down. I 
don’t want to be disturbed.” 

The house was very quiet. Linn had gone 
to camp, Laurel was away with Amy and her 
mother, and Rhoda had decided to go up to 
Oaklands to see Katy, who had been writing 
about college, and had the prospectus of several. 

Katy Burnham and Rhoda had become quite 
firm friends, as both were fond of study, and 
both loved to write letters. 

In the serenity of her room Prim tore off her 
hat and wrap, and threw herself on Rilla’s bed, 
giving way to a wild burst of tears. He had 
dared to kiss her with that breath hot with 
liquor. She would have liked to strike him in 
the face. Oh, why had she gone ! Her mother 
would have said just what that stylish woman 
on the piazza said ! Oh, she was glad she had 
not gone to that dancing place with him ! Yes, 
he thought he loved her. She had felt sorry, 
now and then, that her heart or her fancy had 
not softened to him, and she had wondered why. 
Was she light and frivolous, incapable of any 
deep settled feeling? There had been times 
even to-day when she had been fascinated by 
some brilliant tale. She recalled him talking of 
the play from ‘‘ Quo Vadis.” What a gift he had 


GROWING UP 265 

of making a vivid picture. And when he had 
said : — “ Some day, when there is a fine cast, 
we will go. It is more thrilling in the evening,^* 
his high spirits had moved her so, she was quite 
ready to consent. “Matinees seem only an 
apology for the real thing. I suppose they 
think they are good enough for women and 
children,” he had remarked. She recalled, too, 
he had spoken of some of the modern plays that 
he thought very powerful and realistic — plays 
she had seen rather severely criticized. Was that 
the man’s way of looking at it, she wondered. 
Her father and Mr. Bradley viewed it differ- 
ently ; and just now she knew they were right. 
She was ashamed that Harry had said some of 
these things to her, and she felt the scarlet 
flush deepen in her face — and then, those kisses 
redolent of liquor. 

Some one was coming in ! That was Goldie’s 
voice. Prim sprang up, and began to wash her 
face and succeeded only in giving it a mottled 
look. Then she took down her hair. She put 
up the pigtails now, — she had outgrown them, 
— and her hair had developed a bronze tint, 
while just at the edge of her forehead there was 
a little soft shadiness. 

“ Oh, Prim, have you been at school all 


266 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


day ? asked Goldie. It doesn’t begin yet, 
and you had promised to go to Helen King’s 
this afternoon. I waited half an hour for you. 
Her cousin wanted to hear about the school.” 

“Oh, I did forget,” exclaimed Prim guiltily. 
“ There’s a prospectus somewhere about. I’ll 
mail it to her. They were all excited about an 
offer to the school for two bright catchy pictures 
to advertise something. The man will pay one 
hundred dollars for the two, ‘ Before and After,’ 
— sounds like a medicine advertisement, doesn’t 
it? I don’t believe I have all the particulars. 
I’ll get them. And Jessie Harford, one of my 
art-school friends, thinks that thing of mine, 
‘ In the Dell,’ is good enough to offer for an 
engraving. I can better it, I know. I wish Mr. 
Pendreth, the instructor, wasn’t so fussy, — ‘ This 
is out of line.’ * Oh, Miss Firth, this isn’t right I ’ 
‘Those eyes are not set right,’ — and so on, until 
sometimes I just tear the drawing to pieces.” 

“ But it is important that you should get the 
foundations right,” commented Goldie. 

“ Oh, the Signor is always talking about the 
foundations. Are they to be built of brick or 
stone ? ” 

They both laughed at Prim’s sallies, but were 
interrupted by the sound of a carriage. Mother 


GROWING UP 267 

and Rilla alighted. Soon Father came and all 
responded to the dinner bell. 

Primrose felt quite natural again. She ran 
down-stairs and kissed her sister. 

Mrs. Evans had changed — improved since she 
had left the circle. She had found the right 
sphere in which to live out her true life. God^s 
love and the satisfaction in her work, her hus- 
band’s love and tender guidance were bringing 
out the womanly characteristics, where before 
it had been striving and questioning. And 
Primrose thought her sister had grown prettier. 

“Mr. Evans had to go to Long Acre,’^ Rilla 
explained. “What queer names are given 
places I I don’t suppose that acre is longer 
than any other.” 

“ It may be all long and not much wide It 
can have the requisite number of feet in any 
shape,” explained Marigold. “Is RogePs pa- 
tient any worse ? ” 

“ The word came that he was dying. And 
Roger did not want me to go,” Rilla explained. 
“ So he told me to take Mother, and make some 
calls and inquire after Mrs. Holmes’ baby. It 
is ill — teething, I believe.’^ 

“Oh, Mother, how did you get along with 
eight ? ” Goldie exclaimed. 


268 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


‘‘They didn^t all get teeth at once/' Prim 
put in. 

“ What a funny thing one has such a hard 
time getting them in, and getting them out 
again,” Tip observed. 

“ I was very glad of Mother. I shall always 
take her around with me when I make parish 
calls, and Roger has to go some other direc- 
tion,” Rilla went on. “ Then we went to the 
Merrills, Elizabeth’s friends. Oh, Prim, you 
ought to see what a lovely frock she has made 
out of that blue skirt and trimmed it with braid 
taken from something else ! She’s just the kind 
of wife a poor man should have. And he has 
been building two closets in the house, which 
they have improved a good deal. And her little 
boy is fine. Oh, Mother, do you remember the 
day, long ago, we first called there and offered 
Mrs. Merrill some outgrown clothes ? How much 
she has improved, and how happy she is I God 
certainly sent her ‘ the oil of joy for mourning.’ 
But the happiest of all is Myra Pierson. You’d 
almost think she lived in a palace. And she is 
piecing the prettiest bed quilt — all out of new 
pieces Mrs. Briggs gave her. They ought to 
get rich who put everything to such a good 
use.” 


GROWING UP 


269 

“ I always think of our vendue^^ laughed Prim. 

“ And that sort of cousin’s daughter called there 
the other day, and what do you think ! The 
‘ cheek of her I ’ as Linn would say ! She told 
Myry she was going to be married about Christ- 
mas, and that Myry could finish the quilt, and 
send it to her for a wedding present. I think 
they’re jealous that Myry has such a nice home, 
and still keeps her little money.” 

It was quite late in the evening when Mr. 
Evans came. 

“ Poor old Mr. Cummings has gone at last,” 
he said. And he wished he could have given 
something toward the church, but he hoped we 
would not build an extravagant one. He could 
have given something — to the Lord. The chil- 
dren will quarrel over what is left.” 

‘Ht can’t be very much,” said Mrs. Mann. 
“ But I’m glad he had a home of his own to 
die in.” 

They all echoed her thanksgiving. 

Primrose felt more than ever conscious of 
the security and happiness of her own pleasant 
home, and knew that not for all the Collamore 
wealth would she give it up ; and she flushed 
hotly on recalling young Collamore’s sanction 
of secret marriages. 


CHAPTER XV 


A CONFESSION 

When the clergyman and his wife had said 
good-night, Mr. Mann looked up from his paper. 

‘‘ Girls, he began, Fm afraid we can’t start 
on our pleasure trip next week. Two quite 
large orders came in to-day, and Mr. Ross, in 
my office, is called to Michigan, where an old 
aunt of his has just died and there is some 
property to settle. He let this aunt have three 
hundred dollars years ago when his cousin 
bought the place in Michigan, and there is 
some interest owing. So he feels that he must 
go.” 

“ Well, I don’t care so very much,” rejoined 
Goldie. “ You know. Mother, Mrs. Burnham 
invited us up for a little visit when we are to 
bring Rhoda down. Fd just as soon go to 
Oaklands first, and Rhoda will want to be fixed 
up a little. So perhaps. Father, it all happens 
just right.” 

“ I hope Mr. Ross’s fortune will be a little 
270 


GROWING UP 


271 

larger than yours was, Mother,” said Prim. 
“ He will have to go much farther for it.” 

“ Well, ours wasn’t so bad,” smiled the 
mother. “ It was the beginning of good things. 
One can really laugh over it now.” 

“ And think how soon school will begin I 
There will be one less to go,” sighed Goldie. 

“ And I shall be down only four days in the 
week,” said Primrose. ** And two years will 
finish me, if I prove good for anything.” 

“ I am glad you can stay down in the winter. 
And we shall have a good deal of Rilla,” re- 
joined her mother. 

They were all glad Rilla was not going any 
distance, as no one wanted to spare her, and 
Mr. Evans was really a son of the house — a 
brother to all the children. So the matter of 
the deferred trip was settled without any dis- 
appointment. 

But Primrose was not to get rid of her per- 
sistent lover so easily as she hoped. How he 
knew they did not take their journey she could 
not exactly tell, unless he found her father did 
not stay away from business. She allowed her- 
self some very good spirits, working indus- 
triously at her drawing, and taking an in- 
terest in household affairs. She and Goldie 


272 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

went up to Oaklands, and enjoyed the parish 
very much, while her hostess rejoiced at the 
prosperity of the new church and the increase 
in the congregation, and relished hearing how 
the old neighbors were getting along. Mrs. 
Burnham rejoiced sincerely in Goldie’s pros- 
pects. But she wondered a little whether Prim- 
rose would be steady enough to succeed in such 
an uncertain business as making pictures. It 
was enough to wear one’s brains into strings 
to be always thinking up something new ! she 
thought. 

Goldie was in great demand with her songs. 
Primrose was not sure but she thought a fine 
voice the best possession. Katy Burnham had 
improved wonderfully, and was an earnest stu- 
dent. The college plan was a theme of absorb- 
ing interest. 

“ And there’s . a great pile of letters for you. 
Miss Primrose,” was Jetty’s disconcerting greet- 
ing when the girls returned home. 

“ Katy’s grown quite as fast as Rhoda,” was 
Prim’s irrelevant comment. “ And she’s getting 
to be a really attractive girl. I hope Rhoda will 
soften down a little.” 

Next week school began. Rilla’s and Prim’s 
friend, Jennie Read, was going to the Normal 


GROWING UP 


273 

School at Ridgewood, Rhoda informed them. 
There was quite an influx of girls with ambition 
to teach. 

Prim ran over her letters. There was one 
that made her angry. Was Collamore going on 
with the pleading in spite of all she had said ? 
What step should she take next ? He could see 
her in the city. Her eyes flashed with anger. 

“ Primrose,” began her father gravely, as he 
stepped into the living-room that moment, 
‘‘come into the library. I have something I 
want you to see.” 

Goldie was telling her mother about the visit. 
Rhoda had gone up-stairs. Laurel was in the 
kitchen talking to Jetty. 

Mr. Mann opened a letter, and laid it before 
Primrose whose face turned scarlet with anger, 
and her eyes almost blazed as she caught sight 
of it. 

“No, I canT read it,” she said as she flung it 
on the table. 

“ Yes, you ought. It is very gentlemanly 
and proper. He asks permission of me, as your 
guardian, to be allowed the privilege of visiting 
you as a suitor for your hand. Why, Prim- 
rose ! ” he exclaimed, as she sprang up, her face 
scarlet with indignation. 


274 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“And he dared after my peremptory dis- 
missal I 

“Then you do not love him?” 

She felt the relief in his tone. 

“I despise him I I hate him! Oh, dearest 
of fathers, may I confess my shameful fault and 
folly to you? I am afraid Mother would not 
understand. I did like him at first. In the 
early season he came for me at school and took 
me to the station now and then. Miss Greatorex 
knew of our friendship with his father. And I 
did grow to like him, but it was as I had liked the 
other boys, with no thought of falling in love. 
And he used to drop into the studio. You see. 
Father, I never thought, as I am heedless about 
the proprieties,” and Primrose threw herself into 
her father’s arms, and between wild heart-break- 
ing sobs, told him the story of her meetings 
with her friend and of their outing on that 
regrettable occasion. 

“And I just wanted to die,” she sobbed. 
“ I did not feel fit to live and face you all.” 

“You poor, poor dear! And yet we don’t 
want to lose you. If you had not come 
back ! ” 

“ Oh, I could not have done a thing like that ! 
You are a thousand times dearer than any lover 


GROWING UP 


^7S 

could ever be,” and, sobbing tumultuously, she 
buried her face on the broad chest. 

‘‘ Dear, it was not a premeditated thing, yet 
I do not think you should have gone off with 
him. If an accident had happened we should 
have been wild about you.” 

An accident I ” Primrose shuddered, and 
continued between sobs, “That is not all. Two 
days after a letter came from him. I had asked 
Dan to give them to no one but me. It was 
very pleading and tender, and he was wild to 
see me. I answered the letter and told him not 
to write again, as I should not be at home — I 
thought so then. How he found out that we 
did not go ” 

“ He could easily learn that I was at business,” 
her father said. 

“ But I shall never write again. He must 
not come here. And I shall not see him at the 
school ! ” she exclaimed with angry decision. 

“ He has written to me ” 

“ Let me confess all,” Primrose interrupted 
excitedly. “ He did write again, and this time 
I did answer angrily. I said if he dared to 
come, I should not see him ; if he wrote, I should 
remail the letter unopened. That is all.” 

“ You must read his letter to me.” 


276 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

Oh, I cannot I ” 

He saw with pity how she shrank from touch- 
ing it. 

“ Then I will read it to you,” he murmured 
gently, and began in a low tone. 

It was a proper, gentlemanly epistle : he had 
been strongly attracted to Miss Primrose — indeed 
fallen in love with her, he pleaded, and asked 
permission to spend an evening occasionally to 
see if he could persuade her to return his regard, 
which would not only make him the happiest of 
men, but he knew would please his father, who 
would approve, as he liked all the Firth children 
— all the family, indeed. Harry vowed he would 
prove his regard sincere before he really asked 
the inestimable blessing of her hand. He ex- 
plained that he was in a well-known law firm, 
where there were such chances of advancement 
that he would be in a position presently to 
support a wife comfortably, if not in luxury ; 
moreover, he knew his father would be generous 
to the only son of the woman he had dearly loved 
— his first love. 

Primrose raised her flushed and still-tearful 
face, but there was an indignant light in her eyes. 

“It doesn^t ring true,” she declared vehemently. 
“I might believe it but for the latter part of 


GROWING UP 


277 

that day. You see, those two ladies knew some- 
thing about him that I had not suspected ; and 
others may know it as well. I was charmed 
with certain qualities in him, and because we all 
liked his father so much. But I am not in love 
with him or anybody. I am absorbed in art, 
even if it isn’t going to be of the highest order. 
I don’t want any lovers — I’d like nice sensible 
friends. Miss Greatorex has a very happy, 
interesting life. I’d be satisfied with something 
like that — to go and come with no one to 
interfere. I couldn’t be content with a simple 
life like that of Rilla. I’m a queer girl, I know — 
unbalanced maybe, — but I can work for what I 
want, and I like to work.” 

Her eyes shone with ambition. Her whole 
face was in a glow, and her voice had the ring 
that said she was willing to work to achieve her 
desires. How proud and pretty she looked at 
that moment ! He drew her down and kissed 
her. 

** Then I shall dismiss this lover ? ” Mr. Mann 
concluded. 

“ Oh, dismiss him so that he will never write 
nor come ! I shall not see him,” his daughter 
entreated. 

‘‘ What in the world are you and Father talking 


2/8 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

about so much ? ” sang out Goldie, peering into 
the room. “ Mr. Willard, of the building com- 
mittee, is here and says you must see him, Father, 
as he is the bearer of good news. And Mr. 
Evans will be here presently.” 

Mr. Mann rose, and kissing the flushed and 
nervous Primrose, whispered, “ Don’t worry, 
dear. Run to bed and get rested up I There’ll 
be a new day to-morrow.” 

Primrose went slowly up-stairs. She was quite 
sure she hated Harry Collamore. He was not 
even what his father had believed him. And 
now Mr. Collamore was in France or England 
trying to see what could be done with a big rail- 
road concession, and probably little concerned 
about his reckless only son. Primrose was not 
sure she could dismiss Harry as easily as her 
father thought. 


CHAPTER XVI 


COURAGE AND HONOR 

Primrose Firth went to her school the next 
day with fear and trembling. At the two corners 
after she left the car she expected the hated 
figure to appear suddenly and accost her. She 
had determined she would not answer, but keep 
straight on. No one molested her. She worked 
that day as if under a spell. She walked, after 
classes, with two girls, until taking her car at 
five. She had telephoned to Miss Greatorex 
that she should go straight home. 

There were visitors at home in the evening. 
Goldie played and sang for them, and Mrs. 
Willard came over in her corner and talked. 
As Primrose was going up-stairs she waited on 
the landing, and put her hand through her 
fathers arm. 

“ Well, daughter,” he smiled, kissing her 
tenderly. 

** It has all been right. I have worked like a 
Trojan. P sent word to Miss Greatorex that I 
was coming home.” 


279 


28 o red house children 


“ It will be all right in the future, I think,** the 
adoring father assured her. 

Primrose went to bed, a very happy girl. She 
did not hate Harry quite as intensely ; her 
generous nature accepted part of the fault. She 
had, in a measure, idealized him, while he was 
neither strong enough nor high enough for an 
ideal. 

Miss Firth, you are doing very good work,*' 
announced Mr. Pendreth, one of her instructors, 
about this time. “ Before the year is out I think 
I shall offer some of your pictures.’* 

“ Oh, thank you,** she returned with a bright 
smile, and then added roguishly : ** To-morrow 
you will be scolding me.** 

“If you fall back — yes. You girls are vary- 
ing.** 

After lunch, when they were all at work again, 
Mr. Anthon came in, dignified but smiling. 
Students and teachers all bowed to him, se- 
dately suppressing their curiosity. 

“ Young ladies,** he began, “ I have just had 
a note from Dr. Goode, who offered us the 
prize, and he states that I am allowed to an- 
nounce to the class the name of the winner. 
Dr. Goode is kept in with a bad sore throat, 
until able to learn how serious it may be. Our 


GROWING UP 


281 


friend thinks there are several excellent sketches, 
although some are not exactly what he desired. 
There are two students who have hit the same 
idea. One study is finer in face (the two faces 
show the same person, as I hoped they would). 
In ‘After,’ you could almost laugh and dance 
with the girl in her renewed health. So I think 
I must confer the prize on Miss Primrose Firth. 
The other picture, by Miss Clara Kent, is a very 
meritorious drawing. I think most of the class 
deserve praise.” 

Miss Kent rose, with an embarrassed color in 
her face, and her voice was unsteady at first. 

“ I think Miss Firth was not a pupil when the 
contest was announced. She was here to try 
whether she had enough talent to become one. 
It was only for the accepted pupils — the way I 
read my prospectus.” 

Prim’s face was scarlet. Like a flash the true 
situation came over her. She remembered pick- 
ing up the prospectus, her hurried reading of it, 
and her resolve to try for the prize, as an idea 
flashed into her mind. She recalled jotting 
down the plan, the latest date the drawings 
could be received, the manner in which they 
could be sent, and a few other particulars. She 
had given the prospectus to Harry that eventful 


282 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


morning, and he had not handed the slip back. 
It was a piece with her general heedlessness. 
She had had no right to try. Primrose stood 
up very straight, while the color in her face 
deepened. 

“ Miss Kent is right,” she began bravely. “ I 
was not a pupil then — not regularly accepted 
until autumn. I did not notice — or did not re- 
member — that condition. So I will withdraw my 
sketch. The prize rightly belongs to Miss Kent.” 

There was a murmur of applause. Miss Kent 
sat down. Primrose turned toward her, and 
said with real sincerity, Thank you. Miss Kent, 
for the correction. My people scold me a good 
deal for going off ‘ half- primed,’ as they call it. 
It is a bad fault. And allow me to congratulate 
you on being the winner.” 

Miss Kent came over and grasped Prim’s 
hand, making some indistinct excuse. 

“ You did just right,” Primrose said in a sweet 
clear tone, “ and I am glad you have it.” 

There was a great confusion in the class, and 
now Miss Kent was heartily congratulated. 

Mr. Anthon leaned over and said with feeling, 
“Primrose, you are a brave girl, and you did 
that beautifully.” 

“And a very stupid girl in the beginning,” 



“ Miss Kent is right. I was not a pupil then."— 282 , 





GROWING UP 283 

Primrose supplied. “ But it has all come out 
right.'’ 

She recalled now the fact that the paper with 
the offer had not been given to her. It was only 
for the girls previously in the class, and she had 
picked it up where some one had dropped it. 

Miss Kent was certainly very happy. A hun- 
dred dollars would be a great deal to her just 
now. She felt that Miss Firth could not need the 
money as much as she did, as she had several 
little debts to pay. 

“Mr. Anthon, will you explain the matter to 
Dr. Goode?" Primrose asked; ‘‘and tell him I 
regret the careless blunder I made." 

“ Anything you desire I will do with pleasure," 
the director responded graciously. “Your face 
of the girl supposed to have recovered on Dr, 
Goode's medicine is certainly very pretty, and, 
moreover, has a suitable resemblance to the sick 
one, much more striking than Miss Kent's. I 
think the doctor will feel disappointed. He is 
a queer sort of old chap. If he is anxious to 
see you, won't you let me have the pleasure of 
taking you there ? " 

“ Why — yes — if my parents shouldn't object," 
Primrose said hesitatingly. 

It was quite a new attitude for Primrose to be- 


284 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

gin to consider another person’s opinion. She 
wanted to tell Miss Greatorex; but then, that 
lady would be at school the next day. 

The eight made a very merry time at home 
over the news. 

“ Oh, to think how near you came to winning 
a prize,” exclaimed Goldie. “ Maybe there’ll be 
one offered next year.” 

“ Well, it gratifies me to know that I can do 
some worth-while work. I really have found 
the bent of my genius, which is something, since 
I must sing like a teakettle and can’t carry a 
tune. I find many of the funny things take in 
the way of advertisements. Some of the girls 
are studying on that line. I remembered my 
old grasshopper at school.” 

“ I can draw jugs and jars, and did a nice fire- 
place at school last week, — the bricks were so 
nice and even. I did them with a red pencil and 
filled them in with chalk,” announced Rhoda. 

“You are coming on. Pegasus sometimes 
trots in harness,” put in Linn. 

“ Well, there are things beside drawing that a 
college president is required to teach. I don’t 
believe they teach drawing at all,” commented 
Goldie. 

“ Primrose,” said her mother gravely, “ I hope 


GROWING VP 


285 

this will be a lesson to you. You always were 
so heedless and never being quite sure, — doing 
things by halves, and thinking them good 
enough. I’d like to see you steadier.” 

Primrose caught a gleam of mirth in her 
father’s eye. 

“ It’s curious,” she said to him later in the 
evening, “ that I should have come to you in- 
stead of going to Mother with that miserable 
trouble. That’s what most people think mothers 
are for. But I guess men understand men 
better — or boys rather. And the girls at school 
talk sometimes of being out with young men and 
having something to drink. Mother would have 
been horrified and never forgotten it, but I like 
things to be done with when they are over. And 
she would always feel afraid some other young 
man would coax me off. You don’t, do you, 
Father dear ? ” 

‘‘ I think you will always despise the habit of 
drinking strong liquors,” Mr. Mann said. “ You 
children seem to have a prejudice that way. I 
am very thankful Linn thinks it a detestable 
habit. The Bradley boys are the best friends he 
could have. I hope he will grow up to manhood 
of the same mind. Tip is too young to form 
such habits, and for that reason I have always 


286 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

liked Dan. He is a good person to have around 
with children.’’ 

“ Oh, Father dear, how did you have the cour- 
age to undertake eight of us ? ” 

“ Well, I wanted you — every one. You see, I 
had been starved for children,” and he laughed ; 
‘‘ and the only reward I ask is that you shall 
grow up honest, truthful and loving to each other 
and to your mother, and yes — a little to me.” 

“ No, wish for a good deal.” 

There were tears shining in Prim’s eyes. 

Miss Greatorex was quite delighted when she 
heard the outcome of Dr. Goode’s prize venture. 

“ Of course. Primrose, you had no right to try 
for it, but nevertheless you might have been less 
gracious. Now it will be a pleasant thing for Miss 
Kent to remember. And she is a poor girl, try- 
ing to work her way up in a branch she likes 
very much, without the real inspiration of genius. 
Many such people do succeed, but the way is 
much harder. And even some with real genius 
fail of any decided success. They have, as people 
say, * too many irons in the fire,’ — too many 
plans and schemes. I don’t want that to be your 
failure. You are quite volatile — you tire soon if 
you can’t reach your thought rapidly. But you 
are young yet. I have tried some things over 


GROWING UP 


287 

and over, but then given them up as beyond my 
reach, and turned my attention to the things I 
could do well.” 

“ What do you think I can do best, Miss 
Creator ex ? ” asked Prim earnestly. 

“ Faces. And I seldom suit myself in them. I 
could not sit down and sketch on my knee ; I 
must think it over and over. I can copy best ; 
that is, after I have embodied my idea. I go 
over and over it.” 

Primrose laughed. “ Oh, I should get so tired 
of it.” 

“ Not if you improved a little every time. 
That is the way I learned to paint hair, and now 
I get great credit for it.” 

The prize matter was most pleasantly settled. 
Miss Kent became one of Primes steady admirers. 
Dr. Goode wrote a note to Mr. Pendreth asking 
if he would not do him the favor to bring Miss 
Firth to call upon him, apologizing that he very 
rarely went out. 

‘‘ I wish Miss Greatorex would go, too. Could 
she ? ” Prim asked her instructor. 

‘‘ Why, yes 1 Dr. Goode is a queer sort of 
body, and is much given to thinking his reme- 
dies would almost make the world over. Some 
of them are very excellent, people admit. A 


288 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


number of others think him a myth, and the 
medicines made by a company.” 

They made their call one afternoon. The 
doctor’s rooms were on the second floor, next 
door to a lodging house. The laboratory was 
at the back — quite large and filled with almost 
everything, Primrose thought — all manner of 
queer jars, and kettles, and wide-mouthed 
bottles, and things for which she had no name. 

Dr. Goode sat in a reclining-chair of his own 
planning. His outside garment was a rather 
faded and much-stained blanket-wrap. He was 
a small man at the best, looking weather-beaten 
and wrinkled, but it could not be laid to ex- 
cessive outdoor exercise. His meals were sent 
in from next door. The doctor was much en- 
grossed in trying medical experiments, Mr. 
Pendreth had told the ladies on the way, and 
it had to be admitted that he used the best 
materials and found excellent combinations. 
He kept largely to simples, and never used 
dangerous sedatives. His aim was to restore 
the system as nearly to nature as he could. 
When he could do nothing for a person he 
told him so frankly. 

Mr. Pendreth introduced the callers. 

“ So this is the flower that blooms the whole 


GROWING UP 289 

year round ? ” the doctor asked dryly. “ Has 
your mother any more ? ” 

Oh, yes,” answered Prim with a smile. 

There’s Amaryllis, and Marigold, and Laurel. 
And Father wanted one called Rhododendron, 
but Mother wouldn’t have it” 

The doctor threw back his head and laughed. 
He had beautiful teeth. Prim observed. 

“ I should say not ! I should say not I What 
was the compromise ? ” 

Rhoda.” 

‘‘ That’s good,” he commented, rubbing his 
hands, and added with more life, ‘‘ And you 
are a Primrose that blossoms the whole year 
round. Some florist ought to get hold of you 
and advertise you. My 1 He’d sell off his 
stock in a week I ” 

Primrose laughed then. 

‘‘ And who is the next genius ? ” 

‘‘ My brother Chandler is a singer, and was in 
a New York church two years, and now has 
gone to Havana with Mr. Gwynne, the musical 
director.” 

« Yes — wonderful voice, the papers say ! Will 
make a fortune if it doesn’t fail him,” agreed the 
old gentleman with a nod. 

‘‘ And Amaryllis, the oldest of us all, has mar- 


290 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

ried our clergyman and is very happy. All the 
rest are young. Oh, Marigold has the ground- 
work of a superb contralto voice, it is thought, 
and that is all our history at present,” concluded 
Primrose. 

The doctor nodded and smiled his interest and 
approval. 

“ Now a word to you, Miss Primrose,” he re- 
sumed. If you are going to be any kind of 
business woman and want your time and in- 
terest, don’t marry. Men are largely jealous 
fools. You’ll do better without one. They 
want everything of you, — often your money, 
too. If you can go on drawing eyes with the 
expression you put into that girl’s, you’ll do 
well enough. I wish I could take it in place 
of Miss Kent’s. But we must be honest, if we 
starve by it. And this is the business point : 
will you take fifty dollars for your health girl ? 
I shall have the pictures secured by copyright, 
so you could do nothing further with yours in 
a money way. I want it even if I never use it.” 

Primrose drew a long breath and looked up 
at Miss Greatorex with so much astonishment 
that that lady wanted to laugh. She wished 
Primrose could see a picture of the three surprised 
faces, — even Mr. Pendreth’s was worth copying. 


GROWING UP 


291 


** Well/^ chuckled the doctor. 

“ Oh, I don^t think I ought,” murmured Prim, 
in a rather shaky voice. “ You see I had no 
right ” 

“You could copy the picture forty times 1 ” 
expostulated the doctor. “ There would be no 
law against it, although you could not enter 
the competition ; neither could I honestly take 
one drawing from each of you, after having 
asked for one. But I can buy yours if you are 
willing to sell it, and the parties concerned will 
be asked to say nothing about it at present in 
the school. Miss Greatorex, advise her.” 

Miss Greatorex studied Primrose, and saw the 
little tremble quivering around her lips. 

“ I should take it,” said Mr. Pendreth. “ But 
it would be best to say nothing in the school 
about it. Let Miss Kent have the whole credit 
since her drawings will be used. And we are 
all very grateful to you. Dr. Goode, for selecting 
our school.” 

Primrose wanted to cry. She was not sure 
she had the real right to any money. 

Dr. Goode began to make out the check, ask- 
ing if she had any middle initial. 

“ No — sensible,” he commented. 

Then he made out a check for Miss Kent 


292 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

which he handed to Mr. Pendreth, who thanked 
him again for the honor he paid the school. 

“ And some time when your friend Miss 
Greatorex has a little leisure, she must bring 
you in again. I am not such a bear as some 
people represent. And, Miss Firth, I shall be 
pleased to hear of your success in your chosen 
line. You will deserve it,” concluded the doctor. 

Miss Greatorex picked up the check and 
handed it to Primrose who made a graceful ac- 
knowledgment. Then they wished Dr. Goode 
a cordial good-day. 

Miss Greatorex was delighted and exclaimed, 
“ I should like to see their faces at home.” 

“ I wish you could come home with me,” 
Prim said teasingly. 

** I have two engagements for the evening,” 
she replied. 

Primrose would not go back to school, but 
she charged her friend to remember all that was 
said. So she was put into the trolley and 
whirled to the station. 

How queer it had all come about I If Harry 
Collamore had handed back her paper, she 
would have read it over more carefully and 
not have sent in her drawings. How curiously 
things came around. Ought she to forgive 


GROWING UP 


293 

Harry? She felt as if she might forgive the 
whole world, Providence had been so good to 
her. 

At the third station out of the city she was 
gazing out of the window. Numbers of people 
were waiting for the down-train that was just 
in sight. Was that Harry ? She drew back a 
little. There were two girls, gowned in extreme 
styles, talking to this young man. The train 
stopped. He assisted the girls in, swinging him- 
self after them, and half turned to enter the car, 
so that Primrose saw it was Harry ! The trio 
had evidently been somewhere on a lark, and 
was going back to the city, after having had 
supper at a stylish cafe, perhaps. Prim thought 
of Harry’s admirable letter to her father. Well, 
he was quite free to take out whom he chose, 
but her face burned as she recalled the boister- 
ousness of the girls, and remembered that Harry 
had once spoken of some girls he knew who 
danced at the Gaiety Theatre. Prim smiled 
contentedly now at thought of Dr. Goode’s ad- 
vice. Well, she resolved to be in no hurry to 
marry, and trusted she could make money for 
herself, and help the three younger children to 
get an education. If Rhoda wanted to go to 
college, they all ought to help her. 


294 red house children 

There was a little sleet of some kind. It had 
been a cloudy afternoon. Oh, how nice and 
warm the house felt ! And there was Rilla, with 
her cloak and hat off. Later, Roger would 
come to dinner. 

The maid at the rectory was not altogether 
satisfactory. In the first place she was nearing 
eighty, although still a brisk, smart, little Irish 
woman who had been in the Evans family nearly 
twenty years and come to have a feeling of 
ownership. Miss Elizabeth’s marriage had been 
a sore disappointment to her, but she had taken 
quite a fancy to the new mistress because she 

didn’t belong to the quality.” So Amaryllis 
made the work as light as possible for her, and 
Rilla and Roger often came into Mother’s for din- 
ner. Roger always said it was like home to him. 

Rilla and her mother stepped out to visit some 
sick people, Marigold was practising, the twins 
and Tip were studying in the play-room. Prim 
went out and interviewed Jetty. There was to 
be stewed chicken for dinner, and the dessert 
was made. As she walked back and forth, she 
inspected nervously the contents of her bag. 
Yes, there was the wonderful check, the money 
she had earned so easily — as easily as Chan did 
singing I And she laughed, thinking how Chan 


GROWING UP 


295 

and Goldie had earned the piano ! And, oh, it 
was such a relief not to be looking for a letter you 
did not want, that you could not consult Mother 
about I 

“ I will never have a secret again,” she said to 
herself, “ and I will never have any lovers.” 

The ladies came home, and reported that the 
sick people were better. Then Father’s train 
whistle sounded on the wind, which was in- 
creasing with the slight snowfall that the ladies 
shook from their garments. 

‘‘ It seems a week since morning,” said Prim 
casually. 

“ Has the day seemed so long ? ” asked Rilla. 

It has not been half long enough for me.” 

** That is because you lay out too much.” 

“ Well, what have you done ? ” 

“ I went out with Miss Greatorex,” Prim began 
eagerly. “ I didn’t do much of anything at the 
studio.” 

‘‘ How are you getting along ? Has word of 
the prize come yet ? ” 

** It was to be announced this afternoon,” re- 
turned Prim, feigning indifference. 

** And you didn’t wait ! ” 

“ Primrose,” began her mother, ** you are the 
most inconsistent girl. Here you have been 


296 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

wild about it, and now you hardly seem to 
care.” 

“ Oh, we all are sure Miss Kent has it,” said 
Prim lightly. “ Well, she really needs it. She 
is working her way.” 

“ The more credit to her,” returned the mother. 

Then the father came home and gave them 
all a “ cold ” kiss, Goldie said. Just as they 
were bringing in the dinner, Roger wished them 
good-evening, and said the snow had ceased. 
The children and Linn came in from their les- 
sons, and there was a merry time. Jetty was 
making a handy waitress, although not as 
quick as Cap. 

After dinner they went to the parlor. Father 
generally looked over his paper there, then 
saved it to read later on. Prim went around 
to the back of his chair, and held something be- 
fore his eyes. 

** Why I what — you didn’t get the prize ? ” 

“ Oh, folks, dear folks, I have such a queer 
story to tell you. I didn’t get the class prize — 
you have to be a year scholar. I made a mis- 
take, and this is what came of it. I must tell 
you from the beginning.” 

Prim’s voice was so full of emotion that she 
could hardly talk as she went over the an- 


GROWING UP 


297 

nouncement of the prize, and the request that 
she and some friend should call at Dr. Goode’s 
office, and all that had happened there, and of 
her hesitation about taking money for her draw- 
ing, but that Dr. Goode wanted to buy it out- 
right, and Mr. Pendreth and Miss Greatorex 
counseled her to sell it as the doctor was so 
in earnest about it. 

“ But what will he do with it ? ” asked Roger. 
“ Not use it to the detriment of the other girl 1 
That would not be fair.” 

“ Oh, no. We spoke of that. He does not 
mean to use it this season, perhaps in some 
time. But he thinks the eyes wonderful for 
having so much health in them, and the figure 
so graceful ! Oh, I really had to blush with the 
praise. And it doesn’t seem true. Maybe he 
will repent to-night, and ask for the check to be 
returned. Maybe I hypnotized him with my 
name, for he wondered some florist didn’t offer 
a primrose that bloomed all the year round and 
show me.” 

** Oh, Primrose, I wouldn’t consent ! ” said her 
mother. 

They all laughed heartily at that. 

I congratulate you, my dear tall sister, even 
if you can’t carry a tune. It is a splendid hap- 


298 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

pening ! And I think you may be sure you 
have chosen the right thing,” was Rhoda’s out- 
burst. 

They all hugged her and kissed her until she 
was a new, red primrose, and wished her all 
manner of good fortune in the future. Prim 
explained with modest generosity that for the 
present no comparison was to be made between 
her and Miss Kent, indeed nothing was to be 
said about the occurrence. 

‘‘ I think Dr. Goode has some idea of another 
advertisement, perhaps next year.” 

“ Oh, tell us what he is like,” exclaimed Rilla. 

The story of her visit to the eccentric physician 
lost nothing by the telling, although Primrose 
was not satirical. She caught up the funny 
points of his room, and they could fairly see 
the doctor as in a picture, — his peculiarities of 
manner and his dry humor. 

“ And he seldom goes out of his den, as he 
calls it, and his face is full of fine wrinkles, criss- 
crossed every way. His one point of good looks 
is his beautiful teeth.” 

“ Store-teeth, I suppose,” said Linn dryly. 

“ No, I think they grew in his mouth. And 
his hair is an odd color,” added Prim. “ I fancy 
it must have been golden in his youth.” 


GROWING UP 


299 

“And he doesn’t go out for any practice ? ” 
Mr. Mann asked. 

“ Oh, no. I should get so tired sitting in that 
chair. But he has a kind of revolving desk on 
one side, and a bookcase on the other, and 
various things on the floor. He gives you the 
impression that he has just moved in and not at 
all settled yet as to the best places to keep 
things,” ran on Prim gaily. 

“ Dr. Goode ? I think I have never heard of 
him,” declared Roger, laughing, and added 
casually, “But there may be several people 
in the world of whom I have not heard.” 

“Mr. Anthon thinks he has a large mail 
clientele. Oh, do you suppose the check is 
good ? ” cried Prim, and glanced up anxiously. 

“ He would hardly give you a useless check 
or send one to Miss Kent. You see, it could 
be traced too easily. No, I think it is all right. 
But I can deposit it to-morrow and then I will 
learn a little about this mysterious Dr. Goode,” 
said Mr. Mann. 

Then they had to talk a little about church 
matters. 


CHAPTER XVII 


A BOYS’ DINNER PARTY 

So far there had not been enough bitter cold 
weather to delay building operations, and the 
church was progressing finely. Contributions 
kept coming in — not as rapidly as at first, but 
still in an encouraging manner. 

It had cleared up and some stars were out in 
the west when the Evans started for home. The 
offer of calling out Lady Betty, who had not 
been out that day except in the stable yard, 
was declined. 

‘‘ Oh, Prim,” said Rilla with her good-night, 
“ we are both so glad for you, you dear, dear 
girl ! ” 

** Well, it is quite wonderful,” admitted Mr. 
Mann; ‘‘and now we must go to bed and 
dream out what we will do for Christmas. We 
have had so many merry ones that we can’t 
afford to let this one drop down. Linn, what 
makes you so sober? If you don’t pass now, 
there is until next July.” 

“ But I’ve been thinking — there will be four 
300 


GROWING UP 


301 

years in the high school ; then perhaps four years 
in college,” explained Linn very seriously. “Stu- 
art rushed through in three, but he is taking two 
evening terms in the free college. He is bound 
to come up. Why couldn’t a fellow take all the 
rest in the University, and go to business at 
once ? I was reading about a young chap who 
went into business and proved so smart that 
presently his employer sent him to college with 
a view of taking him into his business when the 
fellow was through.” 

“ But your father will send you to college, and 
look out a good business opportunity for you 
afterward,” remonstrated Mr. Mann gently. 
“You must not hasten to get rich. I’ve been 
very happy since I have adopted you all, al- 
though I have not been rich, either. And you 
seem as smart as the average boy.” 

“ Oh, Father, don’t think me ungrateful,” 
and Linn’s arms were around his father’s neck ; 

“ but when ” and he choked down the sob 

in his throat. 

“ My dear,” reasoned the father fondly, 
“Chandler has a gift that doesn’t come once 
in a thousand times, Mr. Gwynne thinks. You 
can’t make that by study or practice. Mari- 
gold’s will be excellent, but not like that. And 


302 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

as for Prim, we4i see how she turns out. You 
are all well, hearty, happy children, thank God ; 
and you must not disparage the work of His 
hands ! ” 

Linn kissed his father good-night with a new 
tenderness. Yes, he must be content. 

The returns from examinations came in the 
week before the holiday. Linn had passed with 
honor, standing at the head of his class in mathe- 
matics, Latin, and German. 

“That’s finer than I did,” said Stuart. “I 
was ’way up in languages, but you beat me in 
math. And I advise you to take up Spanish. 
A young fellow from the University has a fine 
chance to go to Buenos Ayres in a big business 
house, just on his excellent Spanish.” 

“ And did he accept ? ” asked Linn. 

“Yes, and sails early in January. Spanish is 
coming to the front. And there are chances in 
Mexico.” 

“ And in the Philippines. After all languages 
are a good investment when you become able to 
speak them fluently ; and I can twist my tongue 
about them,” said Linn with a laugh ; “ and yet 
I tried without much success to hammer some 
Latin into Rilla’s head ; and now she’s trying 
Latin and Greek with Roger.” 


GROWING UP 


303 

** Do you know what Td like for a Christmas 
present ? ’’ Linn said that evening in the family 
assembly. “A boys’ dinner party. You know 
I went to one with Father. Mine wouldn’t be so 
uproarious. I’d like the Bradleys (though Dick 
didn’t stand quite at the head, but passed), and 
Fred Austin, and Ken May hew, and Jim Ward- 
law. That would be enough. Would it be an 
awful sight of trouble. Mother ? ” 

‘‘Why, I think it would be super splacious 
shouted Prim, and then she went and kissed her 
mother and begged her pardon. 

Mr. Mann laughed. 

“ Why, no,” returned Mrs. Mann. “ I think 
it would be rather funny.” 

“ And we won’t have any girls but Prim and 
Goldie.” 

“ And we will wait on the table,” volunteered 
Goldie. 

“ And oh. Prim, you must tell the old story 
about the Kron, and every boy must try to say 
it I Oh, we would have ‘ lashin’s ’ of fun, as the 
Irish say, because those boys won’t be afraid of 
Prim or Goldie. And it will be just red-hot. 
We’ll have two turkeys. Oh, it will be a fine 
Christmas; for we’ve had books and things 
until the house is most full.” 


304 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ I don’t want to hang up my stocking,” an- 
nounced Rhoda. “ It’s a foolish habit — well 
enough for little bits of children, who can believe 
in Santa Claus. I’d like some nice books, and a 
new set of furs, and a pair of those high skating- 
shoes, and — and ” 

“ I think that will do, Rhoda,” said her 
mother. 

“ And no one must give me any chocolates. 
I don’t like the nasty black things. But I do 
like creamed walnuts,” was Goldie’s suggestion. 

“We will remember it,” said Linn, with his 
best bow, that went nearly down to the carpet. 

They had a puzzle thinking up the hour for 
Linn’s party. The Christmas tree would be at 
four, and some of the boys were to sing carols. 
So two o’clock was settled upon. Every one 
was charged not to talk about it to the rest of 
the boys, lest it might make hard feelings. 

“ For we couldn’t ask even all the boys that 
passed,” explained Linn. “ Our table wouldn’t 
hold them.” 

Those who were invited were on the mark. 
Greta Bachman came over to help, and see the fun. 

Laurel was delighted with her Christmas. 
Her stocking was so full it “spilled over,” she 
told her mother. The twins were invited out to 


GROfFING UP 


305 

dinner, but Rhoda thought there would be more 
fun at home, even if she had to eat out in the 
kitchen. 

Her cup of satisfaction was full, however. Rilla 
had exhumed an old fur cap and a package of 
white coney fur, from which she made a pretty 
muff with two quite broad white stripes, and a 
neck-piece edged with white, and trimmed 
across the square back with some tails. It was 
lined with some truly-new, light blue, brocaded 
silk ; and since it was quite pretty enough to 
have come out of a store, Rilla and her mother 
kept their own counsel, and Rhoda displayed 
her furs with great pride. But she would not 
give her other furs away, explaining she wanted 
them for school wear, in which the others might 
get soiled. Not even Prim nor Goldie knew the 
history of the new furs. 

The boys came from church, and sang a while 
to Goldie^s playing. Then they marched to the 
dining-room. Mr. and Mrs. Mann were in their 
usual places ; the girls at the ends of the table. 
As a starter there were two turkeys browned so 
deliciously they fairly made one^s mouth water, 
surrounded by dishes of vegetables and celery 
taken out of the pit that morning, and looking 
like snow-drifts. 


3o6 red house children 

Mr. Mann started the talk. The boys quoted 
bits in foreign tongues and then had to translate 
them, though now and then Prim caught up a 
sentence. As for the dinner, the boys thought it 
superb, declaring the very sight of it added 
hunger to good appetite. The two hand- 
maidens saw that the plates were refilled, until 
finally they began to be refused. 

Was there ever a better plum pudding or more 
natural tasting preserved peaches ? The nuts 
and raisins went begging finally, and Linn 
thereupon rose up, making a gesture for silence. 

“ Friends,” he began, “ my sister Primrose has 
a story with which to complete our pleasure 
about a wonderful animal ; and see how many of 
you can repeat his name. We used to have the 
tale in our Little Old Red House, with a great 
deal of other fun. It is not quite superannuated, 
and I doubt if most of you have heard it.” 

Primrose stood up, with a very grave face, and 
began the account of the animal’s adventures 
when he went to save the bear ; and when he 
fell into the open sea at the North Pole, the 
guests looked at each other in dismay ; when the 
creature made the discovery of the inside world 
the lads stared in amazement ; when he thrashed 
about and made an^ earthquake to get a breath 


GROWING UP 


307 

of fresh air the boys were astonished, but still 
speechless. However, when Prim said the 
Chrononhontontholagosphorus^ the boys nearly 
fell off their chairs with laughter. 

“ Oh, Miss Primrose, did you make that up out 
of your own head ? It’s a little like the story of 
Enceladus in the mythology,” cried Stuart. 

“ I had not heard of Enceladus then,” Prim 
commented. 

“ You can think up the funniest things. Miss 
Primrose I I wish you had been my sister. Mrs. 

Mann, when you want to give her away " 

began one boy. 

“ She’ll come to us,” gaily interrupted Stuart 
Bradley. “ My mother spoke for her long ago. 
And we haven’t even one girl ! ” 

I don’t believe I can give her away,” said 
Mr. Mann. 

“Not even if we drew lots for her ? ” said some 
one. 

“Then you’d have to see what her mother 
said,” laughed the father. 

They all looked at Mrs. Mann as if they had 
forgotten her claim, and then they laughed. 
Prim colored rosily. She was very much at 
home with the boys. 

They all sighed and studied each other as 


3o8 red house children 

Stuart murmured, “ Well, we can wish we had a 
sister like her anyhow.’’ 

“But that funny name!” exclaimed Fred 
Austin. 

They tried all around. And oh, they made 
laughable work of it, and couldn’t get further 
than two syllables I The Bradley boys even had 
forgotten parts of it. 

“ Oh, I don’t see how you could remember it 
so long ! ” Stuart exclaimed. “ Primrose, you are 
a wonderful girl ” and his face flushed curi- 

ously. “ I don’t believe there is another girl 
in the world like you.” 

She flushed then, remembering what Harry 
Collamore had said. 

“ Look at the clock ! ” cried Fred Austin. 
“ And we must be at the church at four for the 
first carol ! Oh, Mr. Mann and Mrs. Mann, we 
do have the best times at your house, and there 
never was anything quite like this before. We 
can’t express enough thanks for such a splendid 
Christmas feast. And oh, we hope you will live 
to be very old people, and always be as fond of 
young folks I If there is any boy I envy, it is 
Linn Firth. He does seem to have the best 
times, and so much real happiness, and it seems 
to me there is nothing in the world like love and 


GROWING UP 


309 

happiness. Thanks for your splendid feast I 
Boys, let’s give three cheers 1 ” 

They made the house ring. Mr. Mann could 
only bow ; his heart was full. But Bessy rose, 
and said she was glad they had been so pleased, 
and that both she and Mr. Mann were happy in 
their joy. 

The boys had to hurry off. Both Prim and 
Goldie were going too. They never missed the 
Christmas tree. There were Mr. and Mrs. Evans 
awaiting them. The gifts were simple — a book, 
a bag of candy, and an orange, but the carols 
came from glad hearts. 

Afterward most of the boys went into the 
rectory, and lived over the Merry Christmas. 
And Linn was glad with them, but he was 
puzzling a little over Amaryllis. She was neither 
quick nor brilliant. At first, Linn thought, only 
a few accepted her cordially as their clergyman’s 
wife. She was not imposing in appearance, yet 
she had a certain dignity and a very sweet smile. 
She took an interest in the congregation. 
There were, however, some richer people who 
seemed to like costly array for themselves, yet 
thought a horse and carriage a needless ex- 
pense for the minister when trolleys were so 
handy. The elderly ladies were delighted to be 


310 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

taken out, nevertheless, as well as the mothers 
with babies. And Mrs. Evans was ever ready 
to join in work for the church’s advancement, 
but she didn’t fall in with the more extravagant 
plans. 

Perhaps, too, Chan was a factor. That he was 
making an unusual singer was evident. And 
recently he came home loaded with praises and 
honors, and more engagements than he could 
accept. Mr. Gwynne was delighted with his 
protege’s success. 

“ You are as careful of him as if his voice were 
made of gold and might be worn thin,” Rilla 
said. 

‘‘ Yes, I do think of that. I want him to keep 
in the best of order for the next two years and 
then his voice will be well established,” confessed 
Mr. Gwynne, and inquired eagerly, '‘How does 
my little Goldie get along ? ” 

" Oh, I am doing very well, my teacher 
thinks, and the Signor is really proud of me. 
I shall do for church and concert singing, and 
that will satisfy me,” and Goldie nodded smil- 
ingly. 

" You’ll gain courage as you grow older,” Mr. 
Gwynne assured her. 

" And Prim has had such a funny time and 


GROWING UP 


311 

almost gained a prize/* volunteered Goldie. 
“We couldn't half tell it in letters. And oh, 
Prim, do describe the doctor and his den ! Did 
you ever hear, Mr. Gwynne, of a Dr. Goode?" 

“ I think I have seen the name in advertise- 
ments. Three cheers for you. Primrose I " 

They were all so glad to have Chan. Their 
mother said they almost pulled him to pieces. 
He had grown taller, but his face seemed to 
keep the same boyish sweetness, and his love 
for his mother had not changed a bit — grown 
more fervent, if such a thing could be. They 
talked over old times, and especially the first 
occasion on which he had sung the solo in the 
little old chapel that now seemed shrunken be- 
side the imposing new building. And to-night 
the sweet voice, fuller and richer, broke out 
with : — 

How Beautiful upon the Mountains 

in almost rapturous strains. 

Bessy wiped some tears from her eyes. 

They had a fine time with Mr. Gwynne’s 
visit, as he had so much to tell them, and had 
so much beautiful new music that the occasion 
was as good as a concert. But Chan couldn’t 
sit on his father’s knee now, and the little boy 


312 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

would go round the world hereafter, if not 
quite singing for a living, at least to enchant 
people. 

“ Where is Mr. Collamore now, and do you 
know anything about Harry Tip asked ab- 
ruptly, as the circle spoke of old friends. 

“Harry is in a big law firm in the city, a 
stylish young man, much given to theatres and 
gayety,^^ Mr. Mann answered in a tone that did 
not encourage questions. 

There really was a party in the evening. All 
the children were together, and could hardly 
hear one another with their merriment. Mr. 
Evans was delighted to welcome back Chan. 

“ I hope you are going to stay at home a 
while,*^ he said. 

“ Yes, Fm going to leave him until April. He 
may visit around a little and sing for pure 
pleasure,’^ Mr. Gwynne replied for him, and 
added, laughing, “ Though I have to go out to 
Chicago, and suppose I shall get well scolded 
for not bringing him.” 

“ Rilla’s changed the most of anybody,” said 
Chan, as he affectionately surveyed the joyous 
group. “ And she looks so like Mother. Oh, I 
want to see the Little Old Red House ! What 
would we all do in it now ? And how tall Prim- 


GROWING UP 


313 

rose is I And her hair isn^t yellow, but it is just 
as pretty/’ 

*‘And mine is still red,” added Goldie in a 
melancholy tone. 

“ But it grows darker,” Chan observed. “ It 
reminds me that I have a lovely picture of 
Titian’s daughter, though I didn’t go abroad for 
it. Are you going to keep your hair short 
always?” 

** It’s so manageable,” returned Goldie, ‘‘and 
such a little trouble. And when I have a hat 
on, who can tell ? ” 

In the mail at sunset there was a letter from 
Mr. Bernstein, who was coming up to congratu- 
late Chan on his safe return. 

“ I never knew folks to have so much evening 
company,” said Goldie. 

“Well, there’s so much talk about the new 
church. One would think Father was a church- 
builder,” rejoined Primrose. “ You don’t sup- 
pose it will bankrupt us ? ” 

“ What, the talk ? ” laughed Tip. 

They all laughed. 

Several other things had happened. Cap had 
another new baby, a little girl, born on Christ- 
mas morning, and named Laurel at once, lest 
some would declare for another name, but there 


314 red house children 

was not a dissenting voice. Grandmother gave 
thanks that she had lived to see Joe’s little girl. 
The boy, Chandler Alston, was a fine, sturdy fel- 
low now, and Joe thought himself one of the most 
fortunate of men. Cap was certainly a mascot, 
he declared. 

“ But what is a mascot ? ” asked Tip. 

‘‘ Look in the dictionary,” said Primrose. 
‘‘ That’s what I had to do, or I shouldn’t have 
known near so much.” 

“ Well, what is the good of keeping it to your- 
self ? ” retorted Tip. 

“ Things you have to hunt for stay longer in 
your mind,” said Prim decisively. 

“ I wish Father would buy me a big dictionary,” 
began Rhoda, “ and have my name put on it, so 
you would all know that it was mine. He put 
Prim’s name on hers in gilt. I’d keep it up- 
stairs. I don’t like things to get mussed up 
When can I have one of my very own ? ” 

“ When you come home from college,” said her 
mother. 

“ O dear ! ” sighed the child. “ But, any- 
way, I’ll go in the grammar school in the fall. 
And I’ll just rush through. I could have gone 
in January, and I’m sorry I didn’t. They put in 
two new studies.” 


GROWING UP 


315 

“ Tm glad Amy and Laurel will keep together/* 
Mrs. Mann observed. 

“ They both are very slow/* commented 
Rhoda, but no one wanted to continue the 
argument. 

Linn had gone into the high school with an 
advanced standing. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


THANKFULNESS AND HOPE 

The spring came on with a rush. How lovely 
it was ! Oh, did they all remember when they 
each had a little garden, and Tip wanted to raise 
corn and potatoes. Prim wanted to know. 

And we talked of a greenhouse in those 
days,’’ said Chan. “ I don’t suppose one often 
does the things one plans in early childhood. 
And Tip has changed his height of desires 
from the goat to an airship. I think he really 
will go into that some day. And we will save 
the greenhouse for our old age, Goldie. We 
will want something to comfort us when fickle 
fortune turns the cold shoulder to us. I shall al- 
ways like the country.” 

“ Oh, if you could see Mr. Collamore’s splendid 
place,” broke in Goldie. ‘‘ And the flowers 1 
But we decided we didn’t want so much that it 
tired your brain to think of it.” 

“No, I just want enough to enjoy, and some 
to give away. And a place you can keep 
acquainted with — small enough to get around it, 
316 


GROWING UP 


317 

and see all there is. O dear ! to think of being 
old ! And if our voices are thin and squeaky I 

Chan laughed. 

“ Father’s isn’t,” mused Goldie. 

‘‘ Father isn’t old. And it will be ever so long 
— oh, we couldn’t go and leave them when they 
are old,” Chan murmured. 

“ No, we couldn’t,” said Marigold in a tender 
tone. 

It was in rose-time that Mr. Bernstein came, 
and everything was at its best. Chan had been 
away for a fortnight, but was at home now, and 
he and the guest became very intimate. Mr. 
Bernstein brought Mrs. Evans a beautiful lace 
dress, and the husband a gift to the church, 
which was nearing completion. The building 
was very pretty and harmonious. The committee 
were talking of windows now. 

‘‘A friend of mine, a clergyman in New York, 
has offered me a handsome chancel window, 
taken out of a church that had been remodeled. 
The other windows, I think, we shall put in plain 
until some of our people are inclined to put in 
some memorial windows. I shall propose one 
for the two old brothers who gave us our first 
start. We shall not be in a hurry for these. 
There will be a good deal to do to the grounds. 


3 1 8 RED HO USE CHILDREN 

And next year we hope to alter our chapel, and 
make a nice guild room. The trolley company 
are going to extend the tracks to the creamery, 
but it is far enough away not to annoy us on 
Sunday. We are quite looking up, but Grafton 
is resolved not to have factories or saloons,” Mr. 
Evans explained to the very interested visitor. 

“ And the residents are right to keep them out 
for the next fifty years. We ought to have 
some nice residential places,” agreed Mr. Bern- 
stein. 

Chan drove his guest around, even to the 
home of their childhood. Mr. Bachman had im- 
proved it a little every year and it really was 
pretty. 

“Thrifty Germans are most excellent in the 
way of settlers ; so are the Belgians and the 
Dutch. They have improved your western 
countries, and should have taught you Americans 
some useful lessons. I hope it will come in 
time,” commented the visitor. 

“ I hope so,” replied Chan. “ I have been as 
far west as San Francisco, and much of the 
country is splendid. There is much yet to be 
settled.” 

But the finest of all Mr. Bernstein s story-tell- 
ing, Chan and Linn and Amaryllis thought, was 


GROWING UP 


319 

his talk at night about the wonderful Russian 
churches set with jewels of almost every de- 
scription. 

“ And the Russians go down in history as a 
barbarous people,” said Linn, rather indignantly. 
** They have some wonderful writers and painters 
and jewelers. Yet why can’t they try to bring 
up the masses a little ? ” 

“ Education does not get very far among the 
masses. Still it is a wonderful country. Her 
novelists are known all over the world. There 
have been some wonderful Russian singers. But 
their churches are beyond everything in the way 
of adornment,” Mr. Bernstein explained. 

They had quite an amusing time talking in 
foreign languages, and Mr. Bernstein thought 
they were making really excellent advances. 
Amaryllis had such a soft, pretty voice. Chan’s 
was quite like it, Mr. Bernstein said ; Chan’s had 
not reached the depth of manhood yet, although 
it had a fascinating richness. Then they sang 
for him, and Mr. Bernstein declared he really 
had an enchanting visit, and agreed he would be 
delighted to come again. 

They all liked this entertaining guest so much 
that Mrs. Mann really enjoyed arranging for his 
visits, which afforded them so much pleasure. 


320 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ O dear I exclaimed Linn, when he and his 
stepfather were alone, “ Fd like to find some busi- 
ness that took me traveling, but not over and 
over the same routes. Mining engineering 
must be interesting. Fll have to decide next 
year. 

‘‘ There is the School of Mines in New York. 
Couldn’t we go down and visit that?” he asked 
after some thought. 

“ Why, yes, — any Saturday,” agreed his father. 

“It seems so long to spend four years in 
college,” and the boy sighed. 

It would be queer if no one wanted to go to 
college after the father had set his heart on a 
college course. 

But Linn took up his tasks cheerfully. He 
was not a bookworm in the broad acceptation of 
the term, although he studied very earnestly. 
He played ball in the same fashion, and now he 
was becoming a very good chess player. Now 
and then four boys went out on the river for a 
row. Linn was growing tall and strong. Oh, 
if he could only graduate this year ! 

Poor Prim had her misgivings as well. There 
were some days when she thought she hadn’t a 
bit of genius. Other girls sold sketches. One 
pupil went to a steady position in a house 


GROWING UP 


321 

famous for publishing children’s books, but then 
this girl would finish her second year in July. 
Some one was engaged to draw for covers. 
There were, of course, two fine sketches of 
Prim’s that had been admired. Mr. Pendreth 
said she was improving, but she really could not 
see it. And then one day a note came from Dr. 
Goode ! 

“ Will Miss Firth and some friend call in on 
Thursday ? A friend of Dr. Goode wishes to see 
her.” 

Miss Greatorex agreed to accompany Prim in 
response to the girl’s excited request. 

“ Are you going to take anything ? ” her chap- 
eron asked. 

“ No I ” declared Primrose very decidedly. 
“ I’m not a pedlar to exhibit my wares. A 
lady, who is connected with a children’s maga- 
zine, came in one day, and I thought, from her 
manner, she would buy me up, body, soul, pencil, 
and all, but I have never seen her since. Some- 
times I think I must be an agave and blossom 
once in a hundred years. Ere the next bloom- 
ing I shall be in my grave.” 

In his den things really looked as if Dr. Goode 
had not stirred since that first day Prim saw him. 
His gown was the same, and his books seemed to 


322 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

be in the same places. The only difference in 
the room was the presence of a stout, rosy-look- 
ing man, who sat by the window. He had been 
in the school a week or two before. Prim remem- 
bered, but he had not come over to her table. 
He rose now and responded to the introduction. 
He was a Mr. Garrison. 

“ I missed you the other day,” he began in a 
pleasant voice. “ I had not much time, and have 
been closely engaged ever since. I was sorry 
not to see some drawings Dr. Goode was de- 
scribing. He tells me you are in the business 
for a permanency. We want to add some new 
blood to our staff, and I am very sorry not to 
have seen your work. Dr. Goode showed me 
that drawing — ‘After.’ I had a good laugh 
over it, and almost decided to get some of the 
medicine. Don’t you wonder the doctor doesn’t 
take it three or four times a day, and once in the 
middle of the night ? ” 

She had meant to be very sedate — severe al- 
most ; perhaps she did look frivolous. But Mr. 
Garrison’s irresistible joviality, and his fling at 
the shrewd old gentleman quite overcame Prim, 
so that she could not help laughing. It was 
such a merry infectious laugh that Mr. Garrison 
joined in. 


GROWING UP 


323 

Well, Fve had some most excellent certificates 
already,” commented the doctor. “ But I think 
Miss Firth’s smile in the drawing would have 
been enough to put some fat on any one’s 
bones.” 

” It was a capital thing,” agreed Mr. Garrison, 
” What are the others like ? ” 

“ Oh, the large ones are dignified — rather on 
the order of sentiment. The girls do excellent 
work, I think. I’m not sure I have any genius, 
although that was my idea at first. Only — I 
love the business,” was Prim’s enthusiastic 
reply. 

“Free-hand drawing? You have only to or- 
der up what you want. Garrison,” put in Dr. 
Goode dryly. 

“ That is convenient, too. Is it too late to go 
back to the school?” Mr. Garrison asked, study- 
ing Primrose who, it seemed, looked at least five 
years younger than when she entered the office. 

“ Why, no,” she replied. 

“ And this other student ? ” he queried. 

“ She has two places, and they keep her pretty 
busy,” Prim explained. 

“ And you ” 

“ I am in the market,” put in Prim. “ That 
will settle my claim.” 


324 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

She looked very spirited, and held her head 
up straight. 

“ How long have you been at the business ? ” 
Mr. Garrison continued. 

“In the school? Only since last Septem- 
ber. But I always made pictures in a certain 
way.” 

Mr. Garrison picked up his hat and went to 
the door. 

“ See here,” began the doctor, addressing 
Primrose, “ I asked you to come in occasionally, 
and let me hear of your success.” 

“But if I didn’t have any?” she replied 
meekly, and asked slyly, “ Have you any po- 
tions to start people on the road ? ” 

“ Come in and see,” he returned gravely. 

She gave him a gay nod of farewell. 

It was no great distance to the school, and as 
it occurred to Mr. Garrison that he knew Miss 
Greatorex quite well by some pictures that had 
been on exhibition, he and Prim’s escort had 
most of the , conversation. At the school some 
of the girls were preparing to go home. The 
three went over to Miss Firth’s table, and, after 
asking Mr. Garrison to be seated. Primrose 
pulled out two of the drawers. 

“ That is fine 1 ” he exclaimed, as he took up 


GROWING UP 


325 

one of the large pictures; ^‘and this I How 
many more?” 

“ I have spent my time taking lessons since, 
and doing those studies of children.” 

“ We shall issue a number of children’s books 
in the fall. Some of these are very spirited. 
May I make a selection to take with me?” was 
Mr. Garrison’s quite interested request. 

“Yes,” Primrose said very modestly, thinking 
no doubt he would bring most of them back. 
She was not very hopeful nowadays. 

“ I’d like some more of those large pictures,” 
resumed Mr. Garrison. “Try four more. You 
certainly put a great deal of expression in eyes. 
‘July and September’ — a girl in a hammock. 
And I want a fine Christmas picture — some of 
these children are capital. I’ll be in again — in a 
week or ten days. I’m in the firm of Stan- 
wood & Co. We expect to do a rushing busi- 
ness this fall.” 

Then the three said a cordial good-evening. 

“ If you will keep me all night, Miss Great- 
orex, I’ll telephone home,” announced Primrose 
with a half laugh. “ I haven’t had any luck in 
so long that I feel light-headed.” 

“ But you have been improving all the time. 
Mr. Pendreth said so,” encouraged her friend. 


326 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

“ If he’d say something nice to me now and 
then, it would be a joy to my heart/’ wailed 
Primrose. 

“You had a great deal of admiration in the 
beginning, and you thought it must always be 
so.” 

“I don’t like so much fault-finding. And 
when I do a good thing, I try of my own accord 
to beat it. But I dare say nothing will come of 
Mr. Garrison’s fine talk. Dr. Goode could be a 
real friend ” 

“And you never went to call on him,” Miss 
Greatorex reminded her. “I thought he felt 
rather ‘ miffed ’ about it. Primrose, business 
doesn’t always fly to you ; sometimes you have 
to trudge soberly to it. But you are young yet, 
and experience is a very good school.” 

They had a pleasant evening, and the next 
day when Primrose went home, she had quite a 
budget of news, and a good deal about Dr. 
Goode. 

“ He .didn’t look as if he had ever stirred. I 
wondered if he was a real live man. You don’t 
suppose he is an automaton ? ” mused Primrose. 

“They don’t talk very much, and I never 
heard of one who could think,” said Linn. 

Primrose meant to be very patient, but when 


GROWING UP 


327 

days passed and she did not even have a post- 
card of excuse, she did feel rather blue. Two 
other girls had some nice proffers. She tried to 
work: what was the distinguishing feature of 
September? October? Primrose pondered — A 
girl in a grape arbor, and a bird singing to 
her, almost splitting his throat with melody. 
There was another sketch of children nutting, a 
boy away up, shaking the tree, two girls laugh- 
ing (and Prim had to laugh herself), and one girl 
on the fly, getting out of the rain of nuts. 

There was a step beside her, but she did not 
look up until a voice said, “ Capital 1 ” 

She was drawing on her knee, a harmful prac- 
tice she and Mr. Pendreth had some words about. 
She glanced up, and her face was scarlet. Mr. 
Garrison was bending over her. 

“Is that where the inspiration dwells ?^^ he 
inquired, and there were lines of amusement 
about his mouth. 

Primrose stood up, as Mr. Garrison sat down 
at the table. 

“ That is where it began,” Primrose responded 
humbly. “ Whether it will ever get up to my 
brain — and my first year is almost gone.” 

“ This * Nutting ^ is capital. Finish it up large. 
And this grape girl — her eyes are fine I The 


328 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

other I don^t care for. My verdict goes a good 
way, please observe,” commented the man, and 
added smiling, “ And if you could make a 
picture of yourself drawing on your knee, and a 
young fellow in amazement, and she laugh- 
ing ” 

“ I do not believe I could draw myself.” 

‘‘You’d have three mirrors. Whether you 
could do your laugh — could you make a sound 
in it ? ” was Mr. Garrison’s response. 

“ No, I couldn’t.” 

“ But you might make others laugh,” he 
intimated. 

Then Prim told him the story of her grass- 
hopper. 

“ It was too bad to lose your marks. And 
could you write the composition ? ” 

“Yes, from the earliest date I could find. Do 
you know whether there were any in the garden 
of Eden ? ” was her laughing response. 

“No, but you hit it about the plagues. But if 
you could find its birthplace, we’d get out a 
new encyclopedia,” concluded Mr. Garrison, and 
added briskly, “ But really. I’m in a desperate 
hurry and haven’t time to go back to the six 
days. The house wants you to come down, and 
bring those children’s pictures. And Miss Great- 


GROWING UP 


329 

orex — some of the staff know her quite well. 
Finish up this nutting scene, and bring all the 
children’s pictures. A lady wants a book illus- 
trated with original engravings. We’ll say to- 
morrow at four, as I shall be in. I wouldn’t miss 
it for anything.” 

Primrose promised ; and then she sat wonder- 
ing in amazement. Was good fortune really 
coming to her ? 

She had something to tell them at Grafton 
that evening and they were all very merry. 
Linn too had an announcement : He had taken 
two examinations and they were marked high 
enough to graduate him. He could do that 
easily by next winter. 

“ But you see they were on the mathematical 
line. That’s my forte. Prim. I don’t suppose I 
can stand at the head in everything.” 

” Oh, I wouldn’t work too hard,” said his 
father. Six months isn’t much. And you 
couldn’t enter college until autumn.” 

“ It’s queer without Roger and Rilla, and no 
one coming in this evening,” exclaimed Mari- 
gold, who was more interested in social events. 
“ I’m afraid we’re being deserted.” 

” Why, there’s the big party at the Thatchers’. 
Mother didn’t have the courage to accept. And 


330 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

I guess it is mostly for young people,” Linn 
explained. 

“No, I can’t go everywhere, and we hardly 
know them,” the mother observed quietly. 

“ And they wanted Chan to come and sing, 
and be paid for it. They are going to have a 
famous tenor,” went on Goldie. 

“ O dear ! How much money some people 
do have ! ” sighed Linn. 

“ Or spend,” said their father. 

The father could not help being pleased at 
Prim’s unexpected good proffer. She had rather 
lost her enthusiasm of late, and he hoped she 
would tire of the business and be content to stay 
at home. 

Linn marched proudly into the high school 
and took an advanced standing due to the 
excellence of his Latin. He was very proud of 
it. But the years seemed to stretch out before 
him. Mr. Watson, who had been his employer 
in the summer, said they would be glad to have 
him in the bank again while the others were on 
a vacation. Sometimes he was inclined to apply 
for the first vacancy, for he knew he could go 
higher than an errand boy’s position. 

Primrose was making rapid strides. She 
admitted she wasn’t a genius on every line, and 


GROWING UP 


331 

Mr. Pendreth concluded she might as well keep 
to the things she could do well. She came 
home nearly every night, now often alone, and 
though occasionally she was rudely stared at, 
she took little notice of such advances and held 
her head up very straight. More than once she 
wondered what had become of Harry Collamore, 
and what there was in his persistent love. 

Mr. Mann had finished up business. He was 
leaning his head on his hand when a light step 
on the stairs caught his attention. The next 
instant the office boy announced Mr. Collamore. 

The two men shook hands cordially, and Mr. 
Collamore accepted the proffered chair. There 
was some irrelevant talk, and then the visitor 
said abruptly, have come to discuss some 
matters of personal business, Mr. Mann, if you 
are at liberty. I suppose you have heard about 
my son ? 

“ One of the boys told Linn Harry was not at 
the law office,^' was the reply. 

“ He is at a sanitarium,^’ Mr. Collamore be- 
gan with some emotion. ‘‘It pains my heart to 
admit it even to the few friends who had to 
know it. I never imagined a son of mine could 
go so astray. You know, Mr. Mann, the pleas- 
ures of day and night ruin so many of our young 


332 RED HO USE CHILDREN 

men. It has been excessive smoking, theatres, 
drinking, and bad company. His mother was a 
lovely character, and I have held most of these 
vices in detestation, as you know. I hoped that 
his being with these upright men would bring 
out what was best in him. We resolved he 
should not be overburdened with salary, but 
any one will lend to a young fellow with a rich 
father. Finally, the firm felt they couldn’t keep 
him. Fortunately, I was coming to New York 
and I went to two friends, who are men of the 
highest probity. They have a sanitarium in 
western New York, and have rescued several 
from the downward path. We managed to 
place Harry there, and there he will stay even if 
it takes years to cure him. I had a half-fancy he 
was attracted by your second daughter, and I 
should have given my consent with pleasure if 
he had been worthy of it, but I couldn’t think of 
any nice girl pinning her faith to such an un- 
stable reed. It almost broke my heart.” 

Mr. Mann reached out his hand. 

“No words can express my sorrow,” he ex- 
claimed in a heartfelt tone. “He was so charm- 
ing and attractive, and fitted for any position.” 

“ Thank you for your sympathy. I shall 
make every effort to reform him. We let our 


GROWING UP 


333 

young men go to ruin and then we wonder at 
the crimes that are committed — at the drunkards 
that are made. But this was not altogether 
what I came for. It was to ask a great favor.’* 

Had it anything to do with Primrose ? The 
father’s heart stiffened. 

“ A few days ago I was lunching with Mr. 
Watson, in whose employ Linn was, and the talk 
turned on the boys of to-day and the few who 
could be thoroughly trusted. He spoke of your 
son Linn being such a fine accountant — such a 
promising, trusty young fellow. They have his 
name down for future use when they find the 
right place for him. I am going out on some 
important business to Alaska, partly to unearth a 
nefarious scheme. I want a young fellow with 
brains, who is quick and correct, and not afraid 
of work. Mr. Watson pointed out Linn at once, 
and thought I could not do better. We both 
agreed that a young fellow would be much less 
likely to arouse suspicion. Moreover, I have 
noticed that your son has a great wish to travel. 
You may say that a man who cannot bring up 
his own son in honorable methods is not fit to be 
trusted with another man’s son ; but Harry has 
been with me but little, and has had no real home 
influences. Mr. Mann, I promise you I will 


334 HOUSE CHILDREN 

hardly let Linn out of my sight. Mr. Watson 
thinks his talent for figures and accounts is some- 
thing unusual. He cannot say too much in 
praise of Linn’s ability and his straightforward- 
ness. He would be a clerk on a fair salary (not 
enough to indulge in the follies of the day), and 
I should keep him with me very closely. I 
understand, as I never did before, the tempta- 
tions lying in wait with their seductive aspect. 
This engagement would be only for vacation. I 
must be back in ten weeks. He will see a great 
deal that is new and most entertaining. I think 
you may trust me, with these bitter experiences 
stabbing me to the heart.” 

“Your offer is most generous,” agreed Mr. 
Mann. 

“ I meant to do something for your second 
boy. But he has gone so much higher, and 
found just the friend to advance him.” 

“ I had thought of sending Linn to college.” 

“ And that is well enough if he will need it. 
Then choose Columbia, as he will still be under 
home influences. But I think his trend is for 
business, and I might make a useful friend in that 
respect. And I will return him as honest and 
upright as when he went out of the fold. The 
journey and the experience may settle his life’s 


GROWING UP 


335 

plans. And we ought to be training honest up- 
right boys for our future business men. The col- 
lege plan is a good one on certain lines, but he 
will not be a professional man. A boy with wide- 
open eyes and fair judgment gets a good training 
in business.” 

“ Your offer is most kindly,” repeated Mr. 
Mann deliberatingly. 

“ Will you let the boy decide ? ” 

Ah ! He knew how it would go. But he 
ought not stand in the boy’s light. Here was 
another rival. But Chan’s love had never 
wavered. 

Come up and talk it over.” But the father’s 
voice had no buoyancy in it. 

“ Thank you a hundred times I I am inter- 
ested in the boy’s development. He ought to 
make an excellent business man,” concluded the 
caller earnestly. 

Mr. Collamore pressed him to come and dine 
with him at his hotel, but Mr. Mann feared they 
would wait dinner for him at home. They 
settled upon an evening when Mr. Collamore 
was to come up to dinner. Mr. Mann took home 
a heavy heart for the other’s sorrow. He did not 
even want to look over his paper. 

The young people were very merry. Primrose, 


336 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

who saw fun in almost everything, bubbled over, 
and Linn joined the laughter. Would he miss 
the home circle ? his devoted father wondered. 

What has made you so grave all the even- 
ing?’^ Bessy inquired when they had gone to 
their room. 

So he told her of Mr. Collamore’s misfortune, 
and the effort he was making for Harry. She 
sympathized deeply with the attempts being made 
for the young man^s redemption. And then 
came the announcement of the proffer for Linn. 

“ Why, that will be splendid I she exclaimed 
enthusiastically. “He has always wanted to 
travel. He will be fairly wild with delight. 
And he will be kept busy, too. But — I’m afraid 
you would rather not ” 

“ Whatever is best for the boy ” put in 

the father quietly. 

“ Mr. Collamore will be doubly careful. And 
he is not given to pleasure. You know how I 
felt about Chan. And I think Linn has a really 
stronger character. They will have to try the 
world, and I do believe there is more danger 
for boys than girls. See how finely Prim gets 
along,” she reasoned. 

“ Yes,” he made answer, thinking of the little 
confidence that would always be sacred. 


GROWING UP 


337 

‘‘ I am not afraid to trust Mr. Collamore. 
There are boys who would jump at the chance. 
It is really flattering to Linn, who has a tendency 
to be a little brusque. He will have the corners 
rubbed off. Your wish for them was that they 
should grow into good honorable men and 
women. I think Primrose is getting steadier. 
Oh, husband, we have been fortunate thus far ! ” 
and she kissed him tenderly. 

After Mr. Collamore came up they were all 
jubilant. Mr. Evans thought it a splendid trip 
for a young fellow and the schoolboys envied 
Linn. There were a few things to get in the 
way of outfit. The travelers were to take a night 
train on the first stage of their journey. 

“ Oh, Linn, it is really wonderful I IPs queer 
how the things we want most come to us. And 
it must be splendid to be connected with a big 
business house. It gives one such a standing. 
It is very fine to think of working your way up, 
but so much easier when there are secure steps 
to help. I was desperately discouraged in the 
spring. But some of the second-year girls have 
not made great gains. That queer Dr. Goode 
has been a splendid friend. I think it was my 
name that captured him,” exulted Primrose, as 
she gave her old merry laugh. 


338 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

Of course, there couldn’t be any reasonable 
dissent. The time for discussion was short.. No 
one thought of accidents. People came and 
went for pure pleasure, and certainly they were 
of more account in business, Linn assured the 
family. There were a few things to get, but Mr. 
Collamore was such an experienced traveler, he 
always went in light-marching order. 

Several of the boys went down to the city to 
see Linn off. There were so many at the house 
that parting could not be sentimental. And they 
had the hope and gladness of youth on their 
side — all but Mr. Mann ; his heart was heavy 
for the passing youth. 

So Linn went off in high feather with no 
thought of accidents. Ten weeks wasn’t a life- 
time. He had been over the first part of the 
route before, and did not mind sleeping the time 
away. But after that, all was interest. Mr. Col- 
lamore was a charming traveling companion, 
and he did enjoy Linn’s thorough interest. 

“ But what are we to do for vacation ? ” asked 
Goldie in a rather disconsolate tone. 

‘‘ Take our last year’s interrupted tour,” said 
their father. 

Mr. Ross had returned to Mr. Mann’s office 
quite enthusiastic about the West. 


GROWING UP 


339 

If my two oldest were boys, I should go out 
there and settle,” he informed Mr. Mann. “ But 
there are more opportunities for girls here. One 
of mine will teach next year, and we shall keep 
them in our home life.” 

So the girls were well pleased. Mother did 
not care to go “ jaunting ” about at her “ time 
of life,” she protested. 

“Father Mann, you must never grow old,” 
said Primrose. “ When I make a mint of 
money, I shall drag you around for propriety's 
sake.” 

Primrose had dropped in at Mrs. Bradley^s, 
bringing two letters from Linn. He said they 
must exchange them, as he couldn^t write the 
same thing over and over ; it would take all 
one^s time, he complained, and went on to say 
there was so much to do ! It was lucky that he 
was quick at figures ; Mr. Collamore even said 
he was a real genius. It was all wonderful 1 

The bank was nothing compared to this case, 
and the game was really intricate, the boy found. 
Linn’s task was to listen, as he was told to do ; 
sometimes in his note-taking he put down state- 
ments of some person which were quite con- 
tradictory. Linn wondered when he heard some 
of these how Mr. Collamore could preserve his 


340 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

equanimity, when he knew the evidences were 
false I More than once Linn’s cheeks burned. 

** I don’t see how you can stand it,” Linn cried 
indignantly, when alone with Mr. Collamore. 
“ I should want to get up and fight 1 ” 

‘‘ Oh, I feel like it sometimes,” laughed Mr. 
Collamore ; ‘‘ but it might damage my cause. 
Linn, you are so rapid ; and the points are so 
clear to 3^ou. I don’t have to stop to explain. 
You are worth a good deal in this case.” 

Sometimes Linn drew likenesses of people 
concerned in the case that were fairly good. 
Mr. Collamore was glad to put these away. 

Linn’s warning had put him on his guard. 
He talked of his home folks and his brother’s 
successes. Some of the lawyers had heard the 
young soloist and were much interested to learn 
that Chandler was to be in Florence and Rome. 

“ Linn,” said Mr. Collamore one evening, “ I 
don’t like the looks of two men I’ve seen prowl- 
ing about. We must find a new place for our 
papers. To have them stolen now would be a 
great loss.” 

“ I found a little cave to-day with a dead wolf 
in it,” the boy announced. “ He had been shot, 
but I think he had wandered here. The cave 
didn’t look as if it was used as a rendezvous at 


GROWING UP 


341 

present. Suppose we should try that. When 
do we start for home ? ** 

“ On Thursday.’^ 

“ There would be only to-morrowo” 

** Suppose I should go now, Linn. You may 
be watched.’^ 

** But if some one should be on the lookout ? ” 

‘‘ We are going over to the Harlan House this 
evening, Linn, and it will not do for us to have 
the papers with us.” 

‘‘I can go quickly,” volunteered the boy 
eagerly. “You may follow at a slower pace, 
ril leave by that queer little back door. I think 
no one will see me go. Then Til go round by 
those great trees and run down the ravine, to 
transfer the papers from our shack. Oh, it will 
be nothing.” 

Before any objection could be made the boy 
had started. An old weather-beaten Indian half- 
breed sat on the stone step of the cabin mending 
a net. Linn sauntered about casually, and raised 
a stone, took out several parcels, and, still unob- 
served, put the stone back in its place, before he 
left. He adroitly packed the papers in his stock- 
ing, and started back unmolested. 

Mr. Collamore was waiting for him. They 
found another secure hiding-place, and then 


342 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 

made their way to the hotel, where a supper was 
to be given as a farewell to Mr. Collamore. 

Linn was much interested in the talk, and 
noticed with pleasure that Mr. Collamore turned 
down his glass. The discussions at supper were 
on business and concessions, coal and the rail- 
road prospects. It was late when the gentlemen 
parted, and Mr. Collamore and Linn retired to 
their room. They found the next day the old 
shack had been entered and the few remaining 
papers, of no real account, which Linn had left, 
had been taken. However, their valuable ones 
were safe in the old cave, and they packed them 
up in belts about their bodies. 

“ It’s like a dime-novel,” said Linn laughingly. 

** I didn’t suppose we were going to meet with 
any such adventures.” 

You get prepared for almost everything,” . 
responded his companion. “ I had a vague feel- 
ing that old guide had gone over to the enemy, 
and I had found my papers at the hotel had been 
ransacked, but they were not of importance. 
Linn, you have kept your own counsel admi- 
rably. The Government ought to reward you 
generously. This undertaking will be worth big 
money to it in the years to come, but the real 
fight will be over eastward. Your father can’t 


GROWING UP 


343 

be any prouder of you than I am. I wish you 
were my son.” 

There were tears in Linn’s eyes, and the man 
and boy just clasped hands. Linn recollected 
that he had at times been envying Chan’s gift 
and Prim’s readiness with her pencil I Had he 
a gift on the business line ? he wondered. 

Meanwhile the girls had a royal time on their 
tour with their father. There were so many 
strange and unusual things. And the people — 
the French, who in spite of the many changes 
and the influx of new blood kept to the old ways 
— how delightfully interesting they were I The 
girls were glad to know the legends, the songs 
and the romances of the charming country ; and 
the natural scenery was as full of interest. 

“ I don’t wonder Miss Greatorex likes it all so 
much ! ” said Primrose. “ What a wonderful 
thing the world is ! How can people tire of it ! 
Why, it would take ten lifetimes to see it all. I 
shall envy Mr. Bernstein more than ever when I 
see him again ; and Chan and Linn — and think, 
we have only heard of them through Mother, we 
have been changing about so much ! ” 

And when they returned, looking really like 
tourists, through sun and wind, and with bright, 
eager faces, they found a surprise in a little 


344 HOUSE CHILDREN 

daughter at the rectory, who, everybody said, 
was the image of Laurel I And Roger said he 
prayed for a little girl all along. The chancel 
window had been put in and it was declared 
really beautiful. 

There were Linn’s letters to read, and some of 
the boys brought theirs over for Primrose to read. 

“ It almost makes me jealous,” declared Mari- 
gold. “Why don’t they say — both of us ? ” 

“ Oh, they know I never can keep anything to 
myself,” laughed Prim. 

Grandmother Mann thought her cup was full 
to overflowing. Marigold was asked to join 
the choir of St. Matthew’s Church at Ridgewood, 
as contralto, their singer having gone to New 
York. The salary was not very high, but Goldie 
was delighted with the position. And the girls at 
the school were delighted to see Primrose again. 
Miss Kent gave her a warm welcome, and told 
her that Dr. Goode’s newest advertisement took 
immensely. 

And then Linn came home. He must have 
grown taller, they all declared, and he really was 
a fine-looking fellow, with a very assured busi- 
ness air ! No school or college for him at 
present I Mr. Collamore had made him an 
excellent offer to work as his private secretary ; 


GROWING UP 


345 

and then if he wished a college training, his 
employer would see that he had it. 

“ I cannot say too much for Linn’s character, 
and his mathematical ability amounts to genius, 
Mr. Mann. I wish he were my son. I really 
envy you,” wrote the good-hearted gentleman. 

The Bradleys claimed a good deal of both 
Linn’s time and Prim’s. Linn had to tell over 
and over the wonders of our far-off possession, 
and how many times it had paid for itself, and 
about all its unusual scenery and riches. 

“ Did you know Harry Collamore was in a 
sanitarium?” asked Stuart one evening, when 
he and Prim were alone. “ It is cigarettes, 
drinking, and up until all hours of the morning. 
Mr. Watson told me and every one sympathizes 
deeply with his father. I believe, though, they 
think him curable, but he went nearly crazy at 
first. And think of his splendid opportunities I 
Oh, Primrose, there was a time when I was afraid 
you would love him, he was so attractive ! Oh, 
Prim, it almost broke my heart, for I had always 
loved you, even if you wouldn c learn the violin ! ” 
“ Oh, please don’t ! ” cried Primrose, her voice 
freighted with pathos. ** Fm not going to have 
any lovers. I’m not going to be married. I 
want my life and my energies for the drawings. 


346 RED HOUSE CHILDREN 


rm beginning to understand how a thing takes 
possession of heart and brain — crowds out every- 
thing else. Miss Greatorex is very happy in her 
work. She is my ideal! When I reach that 


place 


“ Primrose, I shall always love you — ten years 
or twenty years, always,’^ and there was a 
solemnity in his tone that awed her. “ I want 
you — my mother wants you. Carry that thought 
in your heart all the years we shall be friends. 
I think God will send you to me at the last.** 

The man on the porch watched them in the 
twilight. Yes, that would be some time. That 
was the way in the ever- widening circles. Well, 
could he not be content with their sweet youth 
— with the merry joyous years ? 

There were three more to grow up. Would 
they be as sweet and loving ? would he be their 
best friend ? But there was Bessy, still, as some 
poet had written : 

** That all the good the world has had 
Remains to make our own life glad, 

Our common daily life divine, 

And every land a Palestine/* 



i 


THE END 





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